Background: We have several (4) of those over the door bracket things to hang your clothes on.. use it for visitors or when you are ironing or need something to drip dry.... One is facing outward on the bathroom/bedroom door. One inward. One is on the WC door. One on the closet door.
******************
I walked into the house and asked Kaitlyn to go hang Norm's shirts, fresh from the dry cleaners, "on the door upstairs".
Later I go upstairs to find both shirts neatly hung....
On the moulding around the door to our bedroom.
"You SAID "on the door"!"
right.
my bad.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
I think I can help.....
First, I read this article on Yahoo!.
Then Kaitlyn said she need black pumps for Grand Bethel. Had to have black shoes with a back... not a strap. Pumps. Ok. Payless Shoe Source. Purveyors of the cheap black pump.
Busy busy day today. Lots of places to go. WHY no place opens before 10 around here, I don't know. I take that back. Some places DO. Like the car wash. I wonder when Payless Shoe Source opens...
Check online. I get the phone number.
I CALL the phone number. ONE ringy dingy. TWO ringy dingy...... TEN ringy dingy..... Only to be answered with that high pitched squeal of a fax machine.
I call the one across town. Same song, second verse.
Contact customer service with this suggestion:
Which they did. Tonight.
EXCELLENT.
Uh huh. Until I read it.... But really... what should I expect from a grown woman still spelling her name that way....
To which I replied....
RIGHT.
But a RECORDING at each store, with that information would be MUCH more helpful than getting an obnoxious noise that not only pierces my eardrum but makes me think I have the FAX line.
Just thought it would help you get more business.....letting people know when you were open so they didn't have to make a useless trip....
I left off the part about how it wasn't MY job that was gonna get flushed because no one knew when the store was open.
Methinks CEO Matt is gonna need more than new signs and paint to make a difference....
Then Kaitlyn said she need black pumps for Grand Bethel. Had to have black shoes with a back... not a strap. Pumps. Ok. Payless Shoe Source. Purveyors of the cheap black pump.
Busy busy day today. Lots of places to go. WHY no place opens before 10 around here, I don't know. I take that back. Some places DO. Like the car wash. I wonder when Payless Shoe Source opens...
Check online. I get the phone number.
I CALL the phone number. ONE ringy dingy. TWO ringy dingy...... TEN ringy dingy..... Only to be answered with that high pitched squeal of a fax machine.
I call the one across town. Same song, second verse.
Contact customer service with this suggestion:
It is just after 8am my time. I have a thousand errands to run today inI get the standard auto response about my email being important and someone will respond yada yada yada....
a short window of time. My daughter needs black pumps. When does Payless
Shoes open? I don't know. I called both stores near me and got a high
pitched whiney tone when it 'answered". A recording with store hours
would have been very helpful. If they are open when I'm out, I'll stop.
But now I can't time my route to be sure
Which they did. Tonight.
EXCELLENT.
Uh huh. Until I read it.... But really... what should I expect from a grown woman still spelling her name that way....
Dear Valued Customer,Damn fine idea you have there Ashli. CALL the store..... Wish I woulda thought of it myself...
Thank you for contacting Payless ShoeSource.
Thank you for your message. Our operating hours vary depending on business needs and store locations. Please contact your local store for their hours.
Ashli
To which I replied....
RIGHT.
But a RECORDING at each store, with that information would be MUCH more helpful than getting an obnoxious noise that not only pierces my eardrum but makes me think I have the FAX line.
Just thought it would help you get more business.....letting people know when you were open so they didn't have to make a useless trip....
I left off the part about how it wasn't MY job that was gonna get flushed because no one knew when the store was open.
Methinks CEO Matt is gonna need more than new signs and paint to make a difference....
Blog Lifted....
Thanks to Anvil...
On her radio show recently, Dr. Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative.
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Law and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two differentcrops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D.
Professor Emeritus
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Payoff
You trudge through each day. You repeat yourself and are redundant and say it again. Then one day.... Payoff.
Today was such a day for me.
Emma and I attended graduation for a special friend of ours. Jeannie graduated from the program at Jessie Baker School and will now go on to the adult program... continuing to build her life skills that started at Jessie Baker 16 years ago.
To thank their church family for all the love and support shown Jeannie through the years, Jeannie's parents took us out to lunch to a new restaurant in town, The Boulevard Bistro. It's a bit spendy for dinner and we just hadn't had the proper occasion to dine there yet. I asked those who had been there before if they thought the menu would be Emma-friendly. I was told they DID have a hamburger on the menu. Ok... we'll be fine.
But I talked to Emma first. After an initial thought that she'd rather just go home, some thinking about it, some more discussion... she decided that she did want to go. I explained that this was a NICE restaurant and the food might be rather fancy. Even a hamburger might be too fru-fru. I reminded her that this would be a place for her grown up manners and that if her food came and it was not to her liking, that she was not to make any sort of fuss... we could stop and get something on our way home...no worries. She agreed and we went.
We sat down at our white tablecloth covered table. After a moment of confusion as to where EXACTLY she was supposed to sit because "there's too much silverware, I can't tell." she promptly put her napkin in her lap. She considered the soup and salad selection. I asked that the soup was for the day.... and upon hearing "shrimp bisque" she said she would like a hamburger. The official name was "Cheddar Burger". She asked me if it would be ok if she just said "cheeseburger". I assured her that would be fine. She ordered using her grown up voice and was further confused when asked how she would like that cooked. I knew she was thinking "on a grill?". I just said "medium" for her and she was relieved to have that done.
We were sitting with two ladies from church. Both of whom Emma knows and who know Emma. Emma had a nice conversation with Patsy while I spoke with Eleanor. When bread arrived I gave her a piece. I had already explained what that funny looking knife was for and she promptly used her butter knife to butter her bread. After everyone had a 'round' of the bread, she asked if she could please have another slice. When given the go ahead, she took one slice and used the proper utensil again.
She didn't squirm. She spoke when spoken to. She didn't interrupt. She didn't use a loud voice. She didn't have to take a bathroom tour. She said please and thank you. She didn't slurp or spill her water.
When her cheeseburger arrived, she carefully spread ketchup on the bun and didn't make a mess. She ate her fries and burger with her hands (as is appropriate) and made liberal use of her napkin. She ate her entire lunch and did not ask if she could get dessert. As we were leaving, she thanked our hosts.
She was, simply, a delightful luncheon companion. And I was sure to tell her so. I was sure to tell her dad the same when we got home, within her earshot.
She was the only child there today. Jeannie's brother was the next youngest and he's 19? 20? Her behavior was far beyond her 10 years. She was as grownup as anyone else there today.
The bonus? "I had FUN too!" she told me when we got in the car.
Payoff. For both of us.
Today was such a day for me.
Emma and I attended graduation for a special friend of ours. Jeannie graduated from the program at Jessie Baker School and will now go on to the adult program... continuing to build her life skills that started at Jessie Baker 16 years ago.
To thank their church family for all the love and support shown Jeannie through the years, Jeannie's parents took us out to lunch to a new restaurant in town, The Boulevard Bistro. It's a bit spendy for dinner and we just hadn't had the proper occasion to dine there yet. I asked those who had been there before if they thought the menu would be Emma-friendly. I was told they DID have a hamburger on the menu. Ok... we'll be fine.
But I talked to Emma first. After an initial thought that she'd rather just go home, some thinking about it, some more discussion... she decided that she did want to go. I explained that this was a NICE restaurant and the food might be rather fancy. Even a hamburger might be too fru-fru. I reminded her that this would be a place for her grown up manners and that if her food came and it was not to her liking, that she was not to make any sort of fuss... we could stop and get something on our way home...no worries. She agreed and we went.
We sat down at our white tablecloth covered table. After a moment of confusion as to where EXACTLY she was supposed to sit because "there's too much silverware, I can't tell." she promptly put her napkin in her lap. She considered the soup and salad selection. I asked that the soup was for the day.... and upon hearing "shrimp bisque" she said she would like a hamburger. The official name was "Cheddar Burger". She asked me if it would be ok if she just said "cheeseburger". I assured her that would be fine. She ordered using her grown up voice and was further confused when asked how she would like that cooked. I knew she was thinking "on a grill?". I just said "medium" for her and she was relieved to have that done.
We were sitting with two ladies from church. Both of whom Emma knows and who know Emma. Emma had a nice conversation with Patsy while I spoke with Eleanor. When bread arrived I gave her a piece. I had already explained what that funny looking knife was for and she promptly used her butter knife to butter her bread. After everyone had a 'round' of the bread, she asked if she could please have another slice. When given the go ahead, she took one slice and used the proper utensil again.
She didn't squirm. She spoke when spoken to. She didn't interrupt. She didn't use a loud voice. She didn't have to take a bathroom tour. She said please and thank you. She didn't slurp or spill her water.
When her cheeseburger arrived, she carefully spread ketchup on the bun and didn't make a mess. She ate her fries and burger with her hands (as is appropriate) and made liberal use of her napkin. She ate her entire lunch and did not ask if she could get dessert. As we were leaving, she thanked our hosts.
She was, simply, a delightful luncheon companion. And I was sure to tell her so. I was sure to tell her dad the same when we got home, within her earshot.
She was the only child there today. Jeannie's brother was the next youngest and he's 19? 20? Her behavior was far beyond her 10 years. She was as grownup as anyone else there today.
The bonus? "I had FUN too!" she told me when we got in the car.
Payoff. For both of us.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Summer... as it ought to be
Today, Emma and I shared a salad for lunch. Salad is good for lunch in the summer. We had been running errands and stopped at the store for dinner fixin's and got salad fixin's. Emma decided that sundried tomatoes ARE good after all.
Then she went swimming this afternoon.
Came home for dinner.
Went back for more swimming.
Tomorrow there will be some more necessary errands to be run in preparation for that other summer necessity... vacation. Getting away. Sleeping in a bed not your own, vacation. In this case, they will both be going to visit Aunt Sharon for a week. All are very excited.
When they return it will be back to a grueling schedule of sleeping late (very late if one is a teen) and playing with friends late.
Tentative plans for swimming in a cement pond out in the boonies and inviting The Boy to join us.... all good, all good.
Friday is our last, last day of school.
ahhhhhhhhhhh
Then she went swimming this afternoon.
Came home for dinner.
Went back for more swimming.
Tomorrow there will be some more necessary errands to be run in preparation for that other summer necessity... vacation. Getting away. Sleeping in a bed not your own, vacation. In this case, they will both be going to visit Aunt Sharon for a week. All are very excited.
When they return it will be back to a grueling schedule of sleeping late (very late if one is a teen) and playing with friends late.
Tentative plans for swimming in a cement pond out in the boonies and inviting The Boy to join us.... all good, all good.
Friday is our last, last day of school.
ahhhhhhhhhhh
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
On Adulthood
In our culture we have no real rite of passage that moves you from childhood to adulthood. No ceremony. No ritual piercing or trek into the wilderness. I suppose the closest we get is when we move from the Kids' Table to the Big Table with the other adults at family holiday dinners.
Some people say they felt like an adult when they got their first real job, got married or had their first child. Others have said they didn't feel like an adult until their parents died. For me, some days I feel more like an adult than others. Most days I just marvel at the fact that I, in fact, am the grown up. My parents are both still alive, although they live many hours away. While I know they are always there if I need them, they aren't immediately available. Maybe a day away available.... So I don't think that is the "moment" I'm waiting for, so to speak.
But then there are days that I wonder how it is that one can NOT be the adult. My oldest child was born an adult. She was pretty much ready to move out and get job at about age 3. Those of you who know her are sitting there saying "well.....yea...she was..." My youngest child is perfectly content playing the role of the baby of the family. She will freely admit to this as well. On occasion, she will play that as her trump card.
Even as the perfectly content baby of the family, that child shows a maturity and wisdom that makes my heart leap. She faces disappointment with a trembly lip and tears flowing, but without tantrum or rage. Such is life....sometimes one is disappointed. Sometimes one does not get what one wants when one wants it.
I see those over the age of majority time and time again acting very much NOT like the adults their birthdate says they are. Decisions are made and the consequences bite and they are shocked. Disappointments are met with rage and tantrums. Small difficulties are nearly insurmountable obstacles.
Perspective is offered and rebuffed as being unwanted and unasked for. Rant in private. Ask not for advice if none is wished.
Hallmarks of adulthood:
* The ability to communicate. This doesn't mean the ability to decide on which movie to see, but to speak of the difficult. To be able to speak and hear truth, most especially when the truth is difficult.
* The ability to face responsibility. Pay your bills. If you can't, do what it takes to do so. And when you can't, don't whine about it, fix it. Care for your children. (see: pay your bills) Equip your children to live as adults. Saddle them with chores and liberties. Make them wash the dishes and let them walk to a friend's house. It is your responsibility AS and adult to create NEW ones. Is it your fault? Suck it up and admit it. Did you make a poor decision? Deal with it and move on. Blame no one else but yourself.
* Mind your own business. You may think it's your business, but an adult knows when it is not. An adult can also discern when all that is heard is one loud point of view that there is probably, no... there is CERTAINLY another point of view. An adult also knows the difference between minding your own business and stepping in to right an injustice.
* When given a choice, take the high road. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as an adult is to take the high road. It is what I struggle to do. I struggle when the opposite of the high road is to right an injustice. But if I am to be the adult, I must let the injustice stand. I must let the slander, misconceptions and half (or less) truths stand.
* You are the only one who can make you happy. No other person can make you happy. Not your spouse. Not your friends. No other place can make you happy. If you are unhappy, you will be unhappy in a different place, with different friends, with a different spouse. These people and places didn't make you unhappy to begin with. Did you have a bad thing happen to you? Deal with it and move on. Children sulk. Adults deal.
I'm sure there are more, but those are mine for now.
Some people say they felt like an adult when they got their first real job, got married or had their first child. Others have said they didn't feel like an adult until their parents died. For me, some days I feel more like an adult than others. Most days I just marvel at the fact that I, in fact, am the grown up. My parents are both still alive, although they live many hours away. While I know they are always there if I need them, they aren't immediately available. Maybe a day away available.... So I don't think that is the "moment" I'm waiting for, so to speak.
But then there are days that I wonder how it is that one can NOT be the adult. My oldest child was born an adult. She was pretty much ready to move out and get job at about age 3. Those of you who know her are sitting there saying "well.....yea...she was..." My youngest child is perfectly content playing the role of the baby of the family. She will freely admit to this as well. On occasion, she will play that as her trump card.
Even as the perfectly content baby of the family, that child shows a maturity and wisdom that makes my heart leap. She faces disappointment with a trembly lip and tears flowing, but without tantrum or rage. Such is life....sometimes one is disappointed. Sometimes one does not get what one wants when one wants it.
I see those over the age of majority time and time again acting very much NOT like the adults their birthdate says they are. Decisions are made and the consequences bite and they are shocked. Disappointments are met with rage and tantrums. Small difficulties are nearly insurmountable obstacles.
Perspective is offered and rebuffed as being unwanted and unasked for. Rant in private. Ask not for advice if none is wished.
Hallmarks of adulthood:
* The ability to communicate. This doesn't mean the ability to decide on which movie to see, but to speak of the difficult. To be able to speak and hear truth, most especially when the truth is difficult.
* The ability to face responsibility. Pay your bills. If you can't, do what it takes to do so. And when you can't, don't whine about it, fix it. Care for your children. (see: pay your bills) Equip your children to live as adults. Saddle them with chores and liberties. Make them wash the dishes and let them walk to a friend's house. It is your responsibility AS and adult to create NEW ones. Is it your fault? Suck it up and admit it. Did you make a poor decision? Deal with it and move on. Blame no one else but yourself.
* Mind your own business. You may think it's your business, but an adult knows when it is not. An adult can also discern when all that is heard is one loud point of view that there is probably, no... there is CERTAINLY another point of view. An adult also knows the difference between minding your own business and stepping in to right an injustice.
* When given a choice, take the high road. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as an adult is to take the high road. It is what I struggle to do. I struggle when the opposite of the high road is to right an injustice. But if I am to be the adult, I must let the injustice stand. I must let the slander, misconceptions and half (or less) truths stand.
* You are the only one who can make you happy. No other person can make you happy. Not your spouse. Not your friends. No other place can make you happy. If you are unhappy, you will be unhappy in a different place, with different friends, with a different spouse. These people and places didn't make you unhappy to begin with. Did you have a bad thing happen to you? Deal with it and move on. Children sulk. Adults deal.
I'm sure there are more, but those are mine for now.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Erudition
There have been a couple of incidents that have caused me to contemplate education lately. Not intelligence, but education. I know lots of intelligent people. I also know some well educated people. Some of them wear their education like a Miss America sash.
They say stuff like "I don't watch "American Idol". I've been too busy with planning events for my local Mensa meeting." Now I don't watch "American Idol" either. But that's because I'm watching "Criminal Minds" or "CSI New York". It's a matter of preferring a good crime drama over Simon Crowell.
Scholarship is a noble goal. Certainly there are those academics for whom the pursuit of greater knowledge is their entire life work. Generally speaking they are one hit wonders. They can speak for hours on the cultural significance and impact of 17th century Russian poets using only iambic pentameter, but for all they know Limp Bizkit is a culinary mistake at high tea.
I find the angst and consternation over "American Idol" and "Survivor" dull. But I would rather spend an evening with people who are well informed on both of those than an academic who is proud of his/her ignorance on those two topics.
Vapid thought and conversation is not the dominion of the uneducated. Ignorance comes in many forms. I may not know anything about 17th century Russian poets, iambic pentameter not withstanding. But I know who the "American Idol" finalists are tonight. That doesn't mean I care who they are and who wins, but I can name them.
Basic education should be broad and varied. Higher education should delve deeper into that broad and varied education. It makes you more interesting. When one holds only a certain area of knowledge in higher esteem to the dismissal of the rest, it doesn't elevate one in the eyes of others. It just makes one tiresome.
They say stuff like "I don't watch "American Idol". I've been too busy with planning events for my local Mensa meeting." Now I don't watch "American Idol" either. But that's because I'm watching "Criminal Minds" or "CSI New York". It's a matter of preferring a good crime drama over Simon Crowell.
Scholarship is a noble goal. Certainly there are those academics for whom the pursuit of greater knowledge is their entire life work. Generally speaking they are one hit wonders. They can speak for hours on the cultural significance and impact of 17th century Russian poets using only iambic pentameter, but for all they know Limp Bizkit is a culinary mistake at high tea.
I find the angst and consternation over "American Idol" and "Survivor" dull. But I would rather spend an evening with people who are well informed on both of those than an academic who is proud of his/her ignorance on those two topics.
Vapid thought and conversation is not the dominion of the uneducated. Ignorance comes in many forms. I may not know anything about 17th century Russian poets, iambic pentameter not withstanding. But I know who the "American Idol" finalists are tonight. That doesn't mean I care who they are and who wins, but I can name them.
Basic education should be broad and varied. Higher education should delve deeper into that broad and varied education. It makes you more interesting. When one holds only a certain area of knowledge in higher esteem to the dismissal of the rest, it doesn't elevate one in the eyes of others. It just makes one tiresome.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
For Stacy
After being told that she is bored with the blogs she reads regularly and that they need to be updated, some of us have dug deep to give Stacy something new to read. (Who should be getting her scrapbook jobs done instead of frittering time away on the computer...)
I have been struggling with WHAT to write. I had no diseases to chronicle. My week is blissfully dull.
And then.... then I have this. A blog that *I* read regularly but I don't know if Stacy does. But today's entry was written just for me so I could post it here so Stacy could read it too.
I have been struggling with WHAT to write. I had no diseases to chronicle. My week is blissfully dull.
And then.... then I have this. A blog that *I* read regularly but I don't know if Stacy does. But today's entry was written just for me so I could post it here so Stacy could read it too.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Bird
We have a blue bird. He's a bird. He's blue. I don't know any more about this bird than that.
He is...about three years old. He is not a caged bird. He's a wild bird. But every year at about this time, he comes back.
You are probably wondering how I know it is the same blue colored bird.....
Because every year at about this time, around mid-day, he starts banging at our dining room window. Or maybe that's just "banging our dining room window".
We aren't sure if he sees a mate or a rival in the the reflection of the window. But whatever it is, it results in a constant banging at the window.
I have noticed this year he is less vigorous in his banging. It used to be relentless.... constant for about five hours a day. He now takes a swipe or two at that bird in the window and quits. Maybe he's just getting too old to bang into windows all day long. Maybe he figures 'she' isn't gonna give it up or 'he' isn't gonna go away. I don't know.
Our little bird started out by annoying me to no end. First by me not being able to figure out who/what was banging the house. He would fly away when there was movement behind the window. It was by chance I caught him. Second by banging. into. the. window. every. 10. seconds. for. hours.
But as I realize our little friend is slowing down..... I think I shall miss him. I suspect this is our last spring with him.
He is...about three years old. He is not a caged bird. He's a wild bird. But every year at about this time, he comes back.
You are probably wondering how I know it is the same blue colored bird.....
Because every year at about this time, around mid-day, he starts banging at our dining room window. Or maybe that's just "banging our dining room window".
We aren't sure if he sees a mate or a rival in the the reflection of the window. But whatever it is, it results in a constant banging at the window.
I have noticed this year he is less vigorous in his banging. It used to be relentless.... constant for about five hours a day. He now takes a swipe or two at that bird in the window and quits. Maybe he's just getting too old to bang into windows all day long. Maybe he figures 'she' isn't gonna give it up or 'he' isn't gonna go away. I don't know.
Our little bird started out by annoying me to no end. First by me not being able to figure out who/what was banging the house. He would fly away when there was movement behind the window. It was by chance I caught him. Second by banging. into. the. window. every. 10. seconds. for. hours.
But as I realize our little friend is slowing down..... I think I shall miss him. I suspect this is our last spring with him.
Reality Check
I don't do "Reality" TV. I have only watched Survivor once. And that was because EVERYONE else wanted to watch it and I was polite. I understand some guy named Chris was recently voted of the American Idol Island and this was a tragedy and the Supreme Court may be looking into voting irregularities. (wait... no.........)
I do not understand the consternation. I do not understand how petitions can be circulated because the voting machines didn't work for a TELEVISION SHOW, but these same people don't give a crap about the voting machines not working in a presidential election because they didn't vote in THAT one. Priorities here people.... let's re-evaluate.
Then there is the 'reality' of make believe shows. The ones not even 'ripped from the headlines'. The pure fiction ones. The ones that exist solely to entertain and get you to tune in next week (or next season as the case is every May).
I am completely amused at the MORAL OUTRAGE at Meridith and McDreamy's ADULTRY. How DARE they! That slut Meridith.... he's MARRIED!!! That cad McDreamy.... he's MARRIED! Or.... "there is NO WAY Izzy wouldn't have gotten kicked out on her ass if she had done that in a real hospital!"
There's a clue. It is NOT a "real hospital". It is a TV show. It is make believe.
How is it that Horatio can just LEAVE his dying new bride (who was shot by not that person but another person and that really just doesn't make sense)?? NO WAY a police department would let her husband and brother investigate her shooting/murder!!! They have OTHER cops!
Again. This isn't a documentary of the Miami/Dade Police Department. In reality the Miami/Dade Police Department doesn't issue Hummers to their CSI's either...
What just cracks me up is some of the people who overlay real life on pretend TV are also some very intense soap opera fans.
What? Adultry, murder, incest (but they don't know it at the time, of course) kidnappings and resurrection after a fiery plane crash.... all in one character.... THAT doesn't seem "off" to you? But Meridith and McDreamy gettin' it on does?
If you need moral outrage, examine the White House's interest in your phone calls. If you need a reason to be pissed off, wonder why Karl Rove hasn't been kicked out on HIS ass. The reality of the real world (not to be confused with the not so much Real World tv show) should get you plenty outraged.
I do not understand the consternation. I do not understand how petitions can be circulated because the voting machines didn't work for a TELEVISION SHOW, but these same people don't give a crap about the voting machines not working in a presidential election because they didn't vote in THAT one. Priorities here people.... let's re-evaluate.
Then there is the 'reality' of make believe shows. The ones not even 'ripped from the headlines'. The pure fiction ones. The ones that exist solely to entertain and get you to tune in next week (or next season as the case is every May).
I am completely amused at the MORAL OUTRAGE at Meridith and McDreamy's ADULTRY. How DARE they! That slut Meridith.... he's MARRIED!!! That cad McDreamy.... he's MARRIED! Or.... "there is NO WAY Izzy wouldn't have gotten kicked out on her ass if she had done that in a real hospital!"
There's a clue. It is NOT a "real hospital". It is a TV show. It is make believe.
How is it that Horatio can just LEAVE his dying new bride (who was shot by not that person but another person and that really just doesn't make sense)?? NO WAY a police department would let her husband and brother investigate her shooting/murder!!! They have OTHER cops!
Again. This isn't a documentary of the Miami/Dade Police Department. In reality the Miami/Dade Police Department doesn't issue Hummers to their CSI's either...
What just cracks me up is some of the people who overlay real life on pretend TV are also some very intense soap opera fans.
What? Adultry, murder, incest (but they don't know it at the time, of course) kidnappings and resurrection after a fiery plane crash.... all in one character.... THAT doesn't seem "off" to you? But Meridith and McDreamy gettin' it on does?
If you need moral outrage, examine the White House's interest in your phone calls. If you need a reason to be pissed off, wonder why Karl Rove hasn't been kicked out on HIS ass. The reality of the real world (not to be confused with the not so much Real World tv show) should get you plenty outraged.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Bandos, Part 2
My CD came today. Well, technically it came yesterday but no one got the mail yesterday.
The return address was vaguely familiar. It didn't have the band name on it and it was hand written.... Who was sending me something from Tustin??
A few seconds later it clicked.
My Narwhal CD.
The receipt had a different address. THAT one was very familiar. Go down the street I grew up on, cross the major street and turn the corner. When you turn the corner, it becomes the street on the receipt.
....someone oughta hook these boys up with Matt Lillard.
The return address was vaguely familiar. It didn't have the band name on it and it was hand written.... Who was sending me something from Tustin??
A few seconds later it clicked.
My Narwhal CD.
The receipt had a different address. THAT one was very familiar. Go down the street I grew up on, cross the major street and turn the corner. When you turn the corner, it becomes the street on the receipt.
....someone oughta hook these boys up with Matt Lillard.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Fifth Grade
Twenty-nine years ago I was in the fifth grade. At this point in the year, the movers were scheduled and I was saying my goodbyes to my friends. We were moving from one end of the state to the other.
Tonight, I spent the evening with two of those friends. Nancy S. had a party for her 40th birthday tonight. We reconnected a couple years ago and found out we only live about 45 minutes from each other. We just haven't been able to connect in person. Email, phone... but not face to face. The whole family was invited and my children put on their happy faces and set aside the sullen attitude of teenagerhood for the evening and came along.
Nancy also invited Liz. Who I think goes by Elizabeth now. Liz brought her family too. Husband and two little girls. I met Nancy's husband, daughter and son.
Her daughter and Emma are in the fifth grade.
The food was fantastic. The drink, plentiful. The time to talk? Scarce. It was a party with a lot of people and Nancy couldn't just sit and talk with one person. Liz and I had a good catching up. Another guest was also in Job's Daughters and we spoke of Job's and Kaitlyn was able to join in the conversation with the grownups for a while. I think that improved her mood alone!
As we were leaving we decided we needed to go out to dinner. Have Kaitlyn babysit the younger kids while the four grownups go out to dinner.
.....and not let another twenty-nine years pass before we do so.
Tonight, I spent the evening with two of those friends. Nancy S. had a party for her 40th birthday tonight. We reconnected a couple years ago and found out we only live about 45 minutes from each other. We just haven't been able to connect in person. Email, phone... but not face to face. The whole family was invited and my children put on their happy faces and set aside the sullen attitude of teenagerhood for the evening and came along.
Nancy also invited Liz. Who I think goes by Elizabeth now. Liz brought her family too. Husband and two little girls. I met Nancy's husband, daughter and son.
Her daughter and Emma are in the fifth grade.
The food was fantastic. The drink, plentiful. The time to talk? Scarce. It was a party with a lot of people and Nancy couldn't just sit and talk with one person. Liz and I had a good catching up. Another guest was also in Job's Daughters and we spoke of Job's and Kaitlyn was able to join in the conversation with the grownups for a while. I think that improved her mood alone!
As we were leaving we decided we needed to go out to dinner. Have Kaitlyn babysit the younger kids while the four grownups go out to dinner.
.....and not let another twenty-nine years pass before we do so.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Growth
We are in the middle of a lot of growing here. You should see the weeds out back!
And the weeds we call our children. Kaitlyn looks me dead in the eye these days. Emma is getting closer every day to doing so. I need to measure her again. I think she's actually grown since I last measured her a couple weeks ago.
The weeds out back? Bad growth. But expected when you combine a long wet winter with sudden warm spring.
The children growing? Good growth. Bad for the checking account cause they need all new clothes and shoes when they do that. But good in the long run.
Personal growth? It's good too. But it often leaves a wake of hurt and anger. Growing up and finding yourself and who you are and standing firm in that will offend. It will make people angry. It will most anger those who were happy with who you WERE. The ones that took advantage of your uncertainty. They were happy to let you work hard and then sit silent while they took the glory and credit. They could count on you to say only what they wanted to hear. They knew that no matter how wrong you thought they were... you would keep it to yourself lest their feelings be hurt.
So finding your true self and striving to be faithful to yourself and those most important to you is bound to offend those who were happy when you were unhappy.
These are people you need not concern yourself with. True friends... heart friends... will be cheering you on. They have been all along. They have cried for your hurt. They have fought for you when you could not. They have prayed for your peace. They are also willing to come over and stomp those nasty people who don't like the new you. Cause that's what friends are for!
And the weeds we call our children. Kaitlyn looks me dead in the eye these days. Emma is getting closer every day to doing so. I need to measure her again. I think she's actually grown since I last measured her a couple weeks ago.
The weeds out back? Bad growth. But expected when you combine a long wet winter with sudden warm spring.
The children growing? Good growth. Bad for the checking account cause they need all new clothes and shoes when they do that. But good in the long run.
Personal growth? It's good too. But it often leaves a wake of hurt and anger. Growing up and finding yourself and who you are and standing firm in that will offend. It will make people angry. It will most anger those who were happy with who you WERE. The ones that took advantage of your uncertainty. They were happy to let you work hard and then sit silent while they took the glory and credit. They could count on you to say only what they wanted to hear. They knew that no matter how wrong you thought they were... you would keep it to yourself lest their feelings be hurt.
So finding your true self and striving to be faithful to yourself and those most important to you is bound to offend those who were happy when you were unhappy.
These are people you need not concern yourself with. True friends... heart friends... will be cheering you on. They have been all along. They have cried for your hurt. They have fought for you when you could not. They have prayed for your peace. They are also willing to come over and stomp those nasty people who don't like the new you. Cause that's what friends are for!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Day Of Silence
Today is the day that the high school students are being silent.
Well... those who wish to be, that is. I hope they don't encounter hate in the process. I spoke to Kaitlyn this morning on how to comport herself if she does. I also told her to call me if it comes from adults. Cause *I* will have something to say about THAT.
They are silent in support of their gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered classmates who are, because of hate, are forced to be silent every day.
Next month our church will vote on whether or not to become a Reconciling Congregation of The United Methodist Church. I am hopeful that we will. We have done everything and become everything that makes a church a Reconciling Congregation. Now we just have to hang the sign on the door.
I am proud of the youth of our church who have, time and time again, stood up against hate towards the G/L/B/T community. I am proud of my daughter who is willing to do so too.
Well... those who wish to be, that is. I hope they don't encounter hate in the process. I spoke to Kaitlyn this morning on how to comport herself if she does. I also told her to call me if it comes from adults. Cause *I* will have something to say about THAT.
They are silent in support of their gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered classmates who are, because of hate, are forced to be silent every day.
Next month our church will vote on whether or not to become a Reconciling Congregation of The United Methodist Church. I am hopeful that we will. We have done everything and become everything that makes a church a Reconciling Congregation. Now we just have to hang the sign on the door.
I am proud of the youth of our church who have, time and time again, stood up against hate towards the G/L/B/T community. I am proud of my daughter who is willing to do so too.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Bandos....
The common wisdom when I was in the marching band in high school was "Once a Bando, never normal." That's of course presuming normalcy before getting to band....
One of the things that George Weibel instilled in us was the all music is good. Don't discount a genre of music just because it isn't something you think you would like.
I have endeavored to keep that in mind. As a result, sometimes I know about bands before the rest of the world. Maroon 5 was one. Y'all know about them now, don't ya?
The only exception to this rule is rap. Cause rap ain't music. You gotta have, you know, music for it be...well, music. Rhyming isn't music. It's an exercise to help preschoolers to read. You might know the master rapper... Dr. Seuss.
Anyway.
My latest find I HAVE to give some publicity. I have a sneaking suspicion that these kids know George too..... They are from Tustin, CA. They won the Battle of the Bands at their high school. Huh.... My alma mater is in Tustin and has a Battle of the Bands.....
Even if they DID go to that other high school.... they're good. Catch 'em early and be cutting edge.
They are represented by Maloof Music and so will be performing during half time during the Kings whomping by the Spurs tonight. I hoped to make it but I have other places to be.
Meanwhile, you can check them out for yourself.
Narwhal
and
Narwhal - MySpace
One of the things that George Weibel instilled in us was the all music is good. Don't discount a genre of music just because it isn't something you think you would like.
I have endeavored to keep that in mind. As a result, sometimes I know about bands before the rest of the world. Maroon 5 was one. Y'all know about them now, don't ya?
The only exception to this rule is rap. Cause rap ain't music. You gotta have, you know, music for it be...well, music. Rhyming isn't music. It's an exercise to help preschoolers to read. You might know the master rapper... Dr. Seuss.
Anyway.
My latest find I HAVE to give some publicity. I have a sneaking suspicion that these kids know George too..... They are from Tustin, CA. They won the Battle of the Bands at their high school. Huh.... My alma mater is in Tustin and has a Battle of the Bands.....
Even if they DID go to that other high school.... they're good. Catch 'em early and be cutting edge.
They are represented by Maloof Music and so will be performing during half time during the Kings whomping by the Spurs tonight. I hoped to make it but I have other places to be.
Meanwhile, you can check them out for yourself.
Narwhal
and
Narwhal - MySpace
Monday, April 24, 2006
On Wealth
I know people of wealth.
One of these people is my friend Stacy. Their bank balance wouldn't make Bill Gates green with envy or anything.... but Stacy and her family are wealthy in their love for each other and in friendships that reach across oceans and deep into the heart of their city. Places where many fear to go but they go without fear and are received with great love.
I also know people of great bank accounts. Some of these people live very normal lives. You wouldn't know of their wealth by their home or their car. But every now and again they pay for things of great value without blinking an eye. Why? Because that's what they saved for all their lives. To be able to pay for these very things. It's why they drive a beat up old car.... so they can spend it on traveling or retiring early. They are often people of great generosity. They have always tithed to their church. They have contributed extra when needed. The volunteer their time to worthy causes (and always have) and see retirement as a time to do more volunteering and to do so globally.
I also know people who take home more money in one paycheck than many people make in two months. They stick it all in the bank. They don't take it back out again. Unless, of course, it is something important. Like expensive jeans or a big screen TV or a new boat. Some of these folks come to my desk during tax season. When I ask about what they donated to charity they say "How much can I put down with a receipt? $500? Put $500." Or they just say "nothing". Ironically, they complain about the social programs that the liberals force on everyone and raise taxes. Yea...well, those liberals are also donating above what they pay in taxes more often than not too.... These folks are often very conspicuous in their wealth. I see how much they paid for their house and their address. I know what kind of house they have. I see all the registrations for all the cars and other toys requiring a license from the state.
Today, someone I know popped off and said "Annoy a liberal. Be Happy. Work Hard." I took offense but I also wondered about that. The most snarly people that I encountered were those who, between questions, regaled me on their View Of The World and How It Ought To Be. They were the ones when I asked about charity said "no". When I tried to jog their memory and said "Did you give money to the Red Cross for Katrina....or anything..." retorted with "I wouldn't give the Red Cross the sweat off my ass." (yes, that is a direct quote) and "Why would I give anything to Those People??"
They were most definitely conservatives.
They were most definitely unhappy.
Of course "all liberals" and "all conservatives" cannot be classified as one or the other. In fact, in the examples I gave, some consider themselves conservatives and some consider themselves liberals in all examples.
Money really can't buy happiness. I know some very wealthy very unhappy people. But I do think you CAN buy being happy. Of course it's WHAT you buy that is important. Do you 'buy' food for local hunger charities? Do you 'buy' school uniforms for poor children? Or do you buy another handbag or pair of shoes? Are you buying another electronic gizmo even though your 'old' one is really not that different than the new one and is only a year or two old?
Wealth and Happiness.
You can have both. You can have neither. You can have one and not the other. The key is you. If you find yourself becoming more and more unhappy while your bank account is growing... try giving it to those for whom a dollar is as precious as a thousand of them is to you. You won't miss it and it will mean a lot to them.
Bragging about your stuff will only make you look like a schmuck.
One of these people is my friend Stacy. Their bank balance wouldn't make Bill Gates green with envy or anything.... but Stacy and her family are wealthy in their love for each other and in friendships that reach across oceans and deep into the heart of their city. Places where many fear to go but they go without fear and are received with great love.
I also know people of great bank accounts. Some of these people live very normal lives. You wouldn't know of their wealth by their home or their car. But every now and again they pay for things of great value without blinking an eye. Why? Because that's what they saved for all their lives. To be able to pay for these very things. It's why they drive a beat up old car.... so they can spend it on traveling or retiring early. They are often people of great generosity. They have always tithed to their church. They have contributed extra when needed. The volunteer their time to worthy causes (and always have) and see retirement as a time to do more volunteering and to do so globally.
I also know people who take home more money in one paycheck than many people make in two months. They stick it all in the bank. They don't take it back out again. Unless, of course, it is something important. Like expensive jeans or a big screen TV or a new boat. Some of these folks come to my desk during tax season. When I ask about what they donated to charity they say "How much can I put down with a receipt? $500? Put $500." Or they just say "nothing". Ironically, they complain about the social programs that the liberals force on everyone and raise taxes. Yea...well, those liberals are also donating above what they pay in taxes more often than not too.... These folks are often very conspicuous in their wealth. I see how much they paid for their house and their address. I know what kind of house they have. I see all the registrations for all the cars and other toys requiring a license from the state.
Today, someone I know popped off and said "Annoy a liberal. Be Happy. Work Hard." I took offense but I also wondered about that. The most snarly people that I encountered were those who, between questions, regaled me on their View Of The World and How It Ought To Be. They were the ones when I asked about charity said "no". When I tried to jog their memory and said "Did you give money to the Red Cross for Katrina....or anything..." retorted with "I wouldn't give the Red Cross the sweat off my ass." (yes, that is a direct quote) and "Why would I give anything to Those People??"
They were most definitely conservatives.
They were most definitely unhappy.
Of course "all liberals" and "all conservatives" cannot be classified as one or the other. In fact, in the examples I gave, some consider themselves conservatives and some consider themselves liberals in all examples.
Money really can't buy happiness. I know some very wealthy very unhappy people. But I do think you CAN buy being happy. Of course it's WHAT you buy that is important. Do you 'buy' food for local hunger charities? Do you 'buy' school uniforms for poor children? Or do you buy another handbag or pair of shoes? Are you buying another electronic gizmo even though your 'old' one is really not that different than the new one and is only a year or two old?
Wealth and Happiness.
You can have both. You can have neither. You can have one and not the other. The key is you. If you find yourself becoming more and more unhappy while your bank account is growing... try giving it to those for whom a dollar is as precious as a thousand of them is to you. You won't miss it and it will mean a lot to them.
Bragging about your stuff will only make you look like a schmuck.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Overheard
In our car on the way to school: (my internal dialogue is in italics)
Mom- You have a hole in your shoe.
Emma- I know. It's been that way since we went to Monterey.
Mom- I know that too. Yet, you are still wearing the shoe with the hole. I would think that "hole in shoe" would be reason not to wear it. I would think it is a perfectly acceptable reason to throw them in the trash, actually.
Emma- I don't have any other shoes.
Mom- Really? Because I distinctly remember you liberating several pairs of sneaks from my closet along with a variety of other kinds of shoes. Plus all the ones we buy for you. You probably have liberated ones that were not in the "I'm never wearing these so they're outta here" pile too.
Emma- Yea, but this is the only one that doesn't get wet inside when I walk in water. Here's a thought... don't walk in water.
Mom- The shoe with the hole in it? The water doesn't go through the, you know, hole?
Emma- Yep.
Mom- You know it's not raining today, right? Thus decreasing the chances of any walking in water. In fact if one does encounter a puddle, it is probably easily avoided.
Emma- Yep.
She's only gonna give up those shoes for new shoes.
Mom- You have a hole in your shoe.
Emma- I know. It's been that way since we went to Monterey.
Mom- I know that too. Yet, you are still wearing the shoe with the hole. I would think that "hole in shoe" would be reason not to wear it. I would think it is a perfectly acceptable reason to throw them in the trash, actually.
Emma- I don't have any other shoes.
Mom- Really? Because I distinctly remember you liberating several pairs of sneaks from my closet along with a variety of other kinds of shoes. Plus all the ones we buy for you. You probably have liberated ones that were not in the "I'm never wearing these so they're outta here" pile too.
Emma- Yea, but this is the only one that doesn't get wet inside when I walk in water. Here's a thought... don't walk in water.
Mom- The shoe with the hole in it? The water doesn't go through the, you know, hole?
Emma- Yep.
Mom- You know it's not raining today, right? Thus decreasing the chances of any walking in water. In fact if one does encounter a puddle, it is probably easily avoided.
Emma- Yep.
She's only gonna give up those shoes for new shoes.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
A List:
Big cheapo bottle of Shampoo for when the children need to use our shower.
Big cheapo bottle of Conditioner for when the children need to use our shower.
One bottle of cheapo shampoo, for colored hair.
One bottle of cheapo conditioner, for colored hair.
One bottle of superdeeduper conditioner for the frizzies that got set in there and not taken out.
One bottle of a combo of conditioner that really zaps the frizzies.
One tube of gentle face cleaner that is good and soapy and gets the makeup off.
One tube of super gritty face cleaner (although it says "hand and body") that gets the flakey dry spots on my face that I have acquired with age.
One tube of extra super gritty FOOT scrub that SOMEONE really ought to be using on both hands and feet.
One bottle of "body wash" that has been there for a year and not even a quarter of it is gone. I should take it out.
One gallon jug of Pert Plus for people with no hair.
Big cheapo bottle of Conditioner for when the children need to use our shower.
One bottle of cheapo shampoo, for colored hair.
One bottle of cheapo conditioner, for colored hair.
One bottle of superdeeduper conditioner for the frizzies that got set in there and not taken out.
One bottle of a combo of conditioner that really zaps the frizzies.
One tube of gentle face cleaner that is good and soapy and gets the makeup off.
One tube of super gritty face cleaner (although it says "hand and body") that gets the flakey dry spots on my face that I have acquired with age.
One tube of extra super gritty FOOT scrub that SOMEONE really ought to be using on both hands and feet.
One bottle of "body wash" that has been there for a year and not even a quarter of it is gone. I should take it out.
One gallon jug of Pert Plus for people with no hair.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Not dead, just no phone
Usually, part of my evening routine includes plugging my cell phone into the charger. I use it quite a bit each day and it usually at least needs to be topped off (yes, I know that's a bad thing to do.... Oh well....). Oddly, last night when I plugged it in it said "Charging Complete". So I unplugged it.
This morning, the phone was OFF. Oddness... So I turned it on and it told me "No Service" and promptly turned off again. So I plugged it in and let it charge before I left to run some errands. It mostly charged but still.... "No Service".
I tried numerous times to call Normy only to get dead air. I tried to send text messages. "Message Not Delivered" As I waited for Starbucks to fix my fix, I noticed a woman looking at her phone in puzzlement and shaking it (cause SHAKING will help). She had no service either. Neither did anyone else in the place.
When I paid for my fix, the barista said "the credit went through" to her co-workers. Uh...yea....ok....
I went over to Longs and bought a couple of things. I tried to pay using my debit card. It did not work. Credit worked.
I had no problems at The Natural Food Co-op.
Bel Air wouldn't let my debit card go through. So we switched it to credit. My friend who works there said that my bank was having trouble with the debit feature. But they were having problems with some of their phones. As I was leaving I noticed the store manager there in his regular clothes (not his Official Bel Air Attire) and heard him say "Ok, so THAT phone will get calls IN, but none of these work for the store and no calls OUT at all?"
I stopped off at home and put the ground beef in the fridge and went to the scrapbook store. Michele asked if anything strange was going on as soon. as. I. walked. in.
They couldn't get their credit card machines to work and the phone was saying "all circuits are busy". Michele's cell phone worked, however.
I got home and the phone was dead.
But the DSL connection was working. I had an email saying "CALL ME!" from Normy. Wondering if I was dead. I had been able to ....almost.... get through to him but not enough for us to actually communicate. He sent text messages that I did not return. The home phone was busy. He called a friend out of state to see if she could get through to me.
Nope. Not dead. Just without ability to communicate with the outside world. If I hadn't had computer access I would have ceased to exist! And Normy was about to drive home from work to look for me. HIS phone worked.
Some dorkus sliced through a fiber optic cable. I'm thinking they need to quit digging up the roads and quit risking the accidental cable slice. Leave. The. Roads. Alone.
All of sudden my cell started ringing as multiple text messages and voicemails started coming in. All asking "are you ok?" "where are you?" and "I can't get a hold of you!"
Imagine back in the olden days when we weren't instantly available....
This morning, the phone was OFF. Oddness... So I turned it on and it told me "No Service" and promptly turned off again. So I plugged it in and let it charge before I left to run some errands. It mostly charged but still.... "No Service".
I tried numerous times to call Normy only to get dead air. I tried to send text messages. "Message Not Delivered" As I waited for Starbucks to fix my fix, I noticed a woman looking at her phone in puzzlement and shaking it (cause SHAKING will help). She had no service either. Neither did anyone else in the place.
When I paid for my fix, the barista said "the credit went through" to her co-workers. Uh...yea....ok....
I went over to Longs and bought a couple of things. I tried to pay using my debit card. It did not work. Credit worked.
I had no problems at The Natural Food Co-op.
Bel Air wouldn't let my debit card go through. So we switched it to credit. My friend who works there said that my bank was having trouble with the debit feature. But they were having problems with some of their phones. As I was leaving I noticed the store manager there in his regular clothes (not his Official Bel Air Attire) and heard him say "Ok, so THAT phone will get calls IN, but none of these work for the store and no calls OUT at all?"
I stopped off at home and put the ground beef in the fridge and went to the scrapbook store. Michele asked if anything strange was going on as soon. as. I. walked. in.
They couldn't get their credit card machines to work and the phone was saying "all circuits are busy". Michele's cell phone worked, however.
I got home and the phone was dead.
But the DSL connection was working. I had an email saying "CALL ME!" from Normy. Wondering if I was dead. I had been able to ....almost.... get through to him but not enough for us to actually communicate. He sent text messages that I did not return. The home phone was busy. He called a friend out of state to see if she could get through to me.
Nope. Not dead. Just without ability to communicate with the outside world. If I hadn't had computer access I would have ceased to exist! And Normy was about to drive home from work to look for me. HIS phone worked.
Some dorkus sliced through a fiber optic cable. I'm thinking they need to quit digging up the roads and quit risking the accidental cable slice. Leave. The. Roads. Alone.
All of sudden my cell started ringing as multiple text messages and voicemails started coming in. All asking "are you ok?" "where are you?" and "I can't get a hold of you!"
Imagine back in the olden days when we weren't instantly available....
Blue.
Sky, that is.
Lots and lots of blue sky this morning.
The storm clouds are moving east. They have butted up against the Sierras and probably delayed sunrise by a good 10 minutes...we could see the sun behind the clouds trying to get high enough to peek over.
The clouds against the mountains was spectacular to behold. Mostly it was spectacular to see the storm clouds in. the. distance.
You'll need chains to go over the Sierras today. And shorts in the Valley.
Hallalujah!
(but keep the umbrella handy...more rain on the way later this week....)
Lots and lots of blue sky this morning.
The storm clouds are moving east. They have butted up against the Sierras and probably delayed sunrise by a good 10 minutes...we could see the sun behind the clouds trying to get high enough to peek over.
The clouds against the mountains was spectacular to behold. Mostly it was spectacular to see the storm clouds in. the. distance.
You'll need chains to go over the Sierras today. And shorts in the Valley.
Hallalujah!
(but keep the umbrella handy...more rain on the way later this week....)
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
How To Tell There's Been Too Much Rain...
The local news has been on for over 10 minutes and we are still doing "weather". Except it has nothing to with "Severe Storm Warnings" and is ALL about:
Damn. Look at the sun.
Damn. Look at the sun.
Praise Flying Spaghetti Monster!
Hallalujah!
(and if you aren't a Pastafarian yet, Google "Flying Spaghetti Monster" and be touched by His Noodley Appendage)
Six more hours. I have six more hours to give to The Man. And then I won't have to think about 1040's, W-2's, Schedule A, B, C, D OR E. No 1099 of any kind. No 1098's.
This year, tax season seemed longer than usual. Maybe because today is the first day it appears to be spring. Maybe all this rain made it feel like February all this time. Maybe it's because I didn't get my "Dear God I think I am actual dying" sick leave this year.
Yes people. I made it through March without pneumonia. I didn't even get really sick. Got a little bit sick. But the wonder drug Airborne brought the sniffles to a quick end.
If you haven't done your taxes yet, you DO have until Monday to get them to the IRS. But don't call me. I'm DONE.
(and if you aren't a Pastafarian yet, Google "Flying Spaghetti Monster" and be touched by His Noodley Appendage)
Six more hours. I have six more hours to give to The Man. And then I won't have to think about 1040's, W-2's, Schedule A, B, C, D OR E. No 1099 of any kind. No 1098's.
This year, tax season seemed longer than usual. Maybe because today is the first day it appears to be spring. Maybe all this rain made it feel like February all this time. Maybe it's because I didn't get my "Dear God I think I am actual dying" sick leave this year.
Yes people. I made it through March without pneumonia. I didn't even get really sick. Got a little bit sick. But the wonder drug Airborne brought the sniffles to a quick end.
If you haven't done your taxes yet, you DO have until Monday to get them to the IRS. But don't call me. I'm DONE.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
No Kidding.
Yea.... I figured.
When I saw Stacy's blog and that her ethics were 25% Conservative and 75% Liberal I wondered what that meant, exactly. I still don't know, but at least she's MOSTLY on board with me.
When I saw Stacy's blog and that her ethics were 25% Conservative and 75% Liberal I wondered what that meant, exactly. I still don't know, but at least she's MOSTLY on board with me.
Your Political Profile |
Overall: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal |
Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
Fiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal |
Defense and Crime: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal |
Perspective
So many times, it is all relative.
Emma is the shortest one around our house. So we tend to think of her as "short". We are all at least a head plus taller than she is. Emma, however, thinks of herself as "tall".
She spends most of her day around kids her age (10). Most of those kids are shorter, some significantly so, than she is. One kid in class is about her height. But she said he was about to turn THIRTEEN. (no.... I don't know why a 12 year old is in 5th grade. But I do know he has some hearing issues and was not born in this country and so may have had a late start in getting a proper education.) There is one girl in her class who is, I swear, HALF Emma's height. I do believe that girl is older than she is. Most of them are....
By summer, she will be a solid 5 feet tall.
She has yet to start any sort of real growth spurt.
I suppose her size 9 (women's) feet are only a precursor to what is yet to be.
Maybe I should sign her up for Joe and Gavin's Basketball Camp this summer......
Emma is the shortest one around our house. So we tend to think of her as "short". We are all at least a head plus taller than she is. Emma, however, thinks of herself as "tall".
She spends most of her day around kids her age (10). Most of those kids are shorter, some significantly so, than she is. One kid in class is about her height. But she said he was about to turn THIRTEEN. (no.... I don't know why a 12 year old is in 5th grade. But I do know he has some hearing issues and was not born in this country and so may have had a late start in getting a proper education.) There is one girl in her class who is, I swear, HALF Emma's height. I do believe that girl is older than she is. Most of them are....
By summer, she will be a solid 5 feet tall.
She has yet to start any sort of real growth spurt.
I suppose her size 9 (women's) feet are only a precursor to what is yet to be.
Maybe I should sign her up for Joe and Gavin's Basketball Camp this summer......
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Open Letter To Door to Door Security Salesmen
You came to my door today. You rang my bell. You stuck the flyer in my doorjamb.
You may have thought that leaving a flyer on my door to make it look like no one is home would convince me of the need for your security service. But no. It just pissed me off that I have ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER in my house. We already have too many of those. We do not need yours.
I didn't answer the door when you came by. I was home, but I ignored you so you would go away. Why is that? Because I was practicing the first rule of Security of The Home.
Do Not Answer The Door To Strangers.
Consider for the moment the irony of that.
You want me to violate the FIRST RULE in order to make me FEEL SECURE.
Yea.... No.
You may have thought that leaving a flyer on my door to make it look like no one is home would convince me of the need for your security service. But no. It just pissed me off that I have ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER in my house. We already have too many of those. We do not need yours.
I didn't answer the door when you came by. I was home, but I ignored you so you would go away. Why is that? Because I was practicing the first rule of Security of The Home.
Do Not Answer The Door To Strangers.
Consider for the moment the irony of that.
You want me to violate the FIRST RULE in order to make me FEEL SECURE.
Yea.... No.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Rain.
Oh dear Flying Spaghetti Monster.
I am done. Stick a fork in me, done.
It has been raining since forever. Really. Today has rained...rained HARD... all day long. I even moved my car to higher ground at work today. Elk Grove Creek is about to crest and when that happens, the parking lot drain will no longer drain into Elk Grove Creek.
The levee on the Cosumnes River failed today. Failed into ag fields.
The weir hasn't been opened yet. (Why? Dunno....) So the Sacramento River is overflowing. Again.
Sandbags are being filled and stacked. Again.
I want to go away for Spring Break. Spring Break is the week before April 15. Which STINKS. Cause that means I am stuck here. Stuck here in the rain.....
So far our major levees are holding. The Bush Administration has come out and looked at them. They agree it's just a matter of time before they fail. Fail worse than New Orleans. So sad, too bad for us. They aren't gonna send us any of the money WE send to them to fix our levees. Not this year. Probably not next year. But hey... hold on for a couple more years and we'll see about it.
Uh huh. When it will no longer be their problem.
It will still be ours tho'....
Red cells heading toward the Sierras.
It will stop raining.
And then the snow will start to melt.
.......hopefully the levees will still be able to hold....
I am done. Stick a fork in me, done.
It has been raining since forever. Really. Today has rained...rained HARD... all day long. I even moved my car to higher ground at work today. Elk Grove Creek is about to crest and when that happens, the parking lot drain will no longer drain into Elk Grove Creek.
The levee on the Cosumnes River failed today. Failed into ag fields.
The weir hasn't been opened yet. (Why? Dunno....) So the Sacramento River is overflowing. Again.
Sandbags are being filled and stacked. Again.
I want to go away for Spring Break. Spring Break is the week before April 15. Which STINKS. Cause that means I am stuck here. Stuck here in the rain.....
So far our major levees are holding. The Bush Administration has come out and looked at them. They agree it's just a matter of time before they fail. Fail worse than New Orleans. So sad, too bad for us. They aren't gonna send us any of the money WE send to them to fix our levees. Not this year. Probably not next year. But hey... hold on for a couple more years and we'll see about it.
Uh huh. When it will no longer be their problem.
It will still be ours tho'....
Red cells heading toward the Sierras.
It will stop raining.
And then the snow will start to melt.
.......hopefully the levees will still be able to hold....
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Definitions...I'm helpful like that
For those who need them: (with help from Dictionary.com)
be·tray (b
-tr
)
tr.v. be·trayed, be·tray·ing, be·trays
n.
be·tray (b
-tr)tr.v. be·trayed, be·tray·ing, be·trays
- To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country.
- To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance: betrayed Christ to the Romans.
- To be false or disloyal to: betrayed their cause; betray one's better nature.
- To divulge in a breach of confidence: betray a secret.
- To make known unintentionally: Her hollow laugh betrayed her contempt for the idea.
- To reveal against one's desire or will.
- To lead astray; deceive.
n.
- A mischievous trick played on a person, especially one that causes the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Great and Wonderful
She's kinda embarrassed by the nickname she has acquired. But everytime I click on "The Great and Wonderful Cowtown Stacy" I say to myself.... Yes. Yes she is.
She is Great and Wonderful mostly because she is the kindest person I know. She is NOT nice. Don't call her nice. She gets...well, not nice about it. But she is most definitely kind.
She is unlikely to call anyone on an injustice done to her. She is very quick to come to the defense when she sees an injustice done to others. But it breaks my heart to see her taken advantage of. That kindness being used against her. I (and others) have often offered to take up her cause but she has asked we not. Lest it make the situation worse. So we just stew about it instead.
She is kind because she had a vacation planned. A get away. But an emergency happened. An emergency near her vacation spot. She forgo the kind of vacation she had planned to sit with a friend at the hospital. She brought her sunny disposition and wicked sense of humor to a very worried wife as she waited for her husband to come through brain surgery. If for no other reason, that makes her Great and Wonderful.
I could list all the reasons she qualifies for that title. But I'm sure you have other things to do today. Suffice it to say... the list is long.
So here's a shout out and a bit of (inadequate) recognition.
Who is your Great and Wonderful?
She is Great and Wonderful mostly because she is the kindest person I know. She is NOT nice. Don't call her nice. She gets...well, not nice about it. But she is most definitely kind.
She is unlikely to call anyone on an injustice done to her. She is very quick to come to the defense when she sees an injustice done to others. But it breaks my heart to see her taken advantage of. That kindness being used against her. I (and others) have often offered to take up her cause but she has asked we not. Lest it make the situation worse. So we just stew about it instead.
She is kind because she had a vacation planned. A get away. But an emergency happened. An emergency near her vacation spot. She forgo the kind of vacation she had planned to sit with a friend at the hospital. She brought her sunny disposition and wicked sense of humor to a very worried wife as she waited for her husband to come through brain surgery. If for no other reason, that makes her Great and Wonderful.
I could list all the reasons she qualifies for that title. But I'm sure you have other things to do today. Suffice it to say... the list is long.
So here's a shout out and a bit of (inadequate) recognition.
Who is your Great and Wonderful?
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Blood Letting
Today was the Blood Drive at church. Sundays being Sundays, we signed up for one of the first slots. 8:45.
This is a mistake. Do not try to donate blood first thing in the morning. Whenever that may be for you. On Sundays, 8:45 is first thing. On a weekday, it would be mid-morning. I got up, got dressed and went to donate blood.
I had no water save that which I gulped after brushing my teeth. We tend to wake up on the dehydrated side of things.
One woman ahead of us couldn't donate because she was too dehydrated. They were worried about my ability for the same reason. No vein on the right side. They found one on the left. Of course it gave willingly and profusely once they found it.
Normy was ineligible because today is day 10 of his 10 day course of antibiotics after getting bit by that highstrung overgrown rodent of a dog our neighbors have.
But I am feeling that dehydration. I drank my orange juice. I had some Goldfish crackers and some Cracker Jack. But I almost passed out getting the fixings for lunch today at the grocery store on the way home. I am sitting quietly and consuming liquids now. I wasn't going to go to church because Emma is home feeling puny.... but I don't think it would be a good idea for me to go anyway.
Donate blood. It's a good thing.
Just make sure you're well hydrated.
This is a mistake. Do not try to donate blood first thing in the morning. Whenever that may be for you. On Sundays, 8:45 is first thing. On a weekday, it would be mid-morning. I got up, got dressed and went to donate blood.
I had no water save that which I gulped after brushing my teeth. We tend to wake up on the dehydrated side of things.
One woman ahead of us couldn't donate because she was too dehydrated. They were worried about my ability for the same reason. No vein on the right side. They found one on the left. Of course it gave willingly and profusely once they found it.
Normy was ineligible because today is day 10 of his 10 day course of antibiotics after getting bit by that highstrung overgrown rodent of a dog our neighbors have.
But I am feeling that dehydration. I drank my orange juice. I had some Goldfish crackers and some Cracker Jack. But I almost passed out getting the fixings for lunch today at the grocery store on the way home. I am sitting quietly and consuming liquids now. I wasn't going to go to church because Emma is home feeling puny.... but I don't think it would be a good idea for me to go anyway.
Donate blood. It's a good thing.
Just make sure you're well hydrated.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
I Seriously Need to Do Something Else Today
| You Are 68% Open Minded |
 You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself. |
...but Blogthings is so addictive....
But of course!
| Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible |
 Fun, funky, and a little bit euro. You love your summers to be full of style and sun! |
Huh.
Wasn't gonna GET the convertable.... Might have to rethink that....
If it only had a trunk larger than the glovebox....
New Additions
If you look over there on the right, you'll see a new blog. Mary is a knitter who frequently shows up to knit and share her expertise at Knitique. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite of her entries. And her Sockapalooza socks look even better in person (she brought them in yesterday!)
...and I really need to get the ol' digital camera out and take some pics of what I'm working on. Probably should have my own knitting blog.... Well, I do. But it doesn't have anything blogged...
...and I really need to get the ol' digital camera out and take some pics of what I'm working on. Probably should have my own knitting blog.... Well, I do. But it doesn't have anything blogged...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Stacy might be a girl...but I know another one
Ol' Normylicious Dirpus read poor Stacy's account of a spider IN HER SHIRT and blogged the following:
Girls. Sheesh!
Uh huh. One word, bub.
Snakes.
We useta live in a house with a backyard. We useta have a lovable Bassett Hound named Molly. Molly was the mellow sort. Not prone to histrionics at all. Not a barker. Not a howler, much. So my attention was immediately attracted when she started frantically barking in the backyard. I looked out the window and thought "the dog has gone looney" cause she was indeed frantically barking.
At the ground.
Her nose was almost in the dirt. Probably would have been if she could have barked in that position.
I sent the child out to investigate. She looked. Took a giant step backward and said:
It's a snake.
{SIGH} Now I gotta deal with it.... okey fine....
I got the leather gardening gloves out because you never know with wild critters. I pulled the dog away and shut her in the garage. (which immediately caused her to calm down, probably took a nap.) The snake was coiled up tight with its head down the center of the coil. You could see it breathing hard or its heart beating hard. I picked it up and pet it. I could see and feel it relax.
I determined it was of the 'garden' or 'garter' variety. (Dirp is reading this and thinking... You weren't SURE???!!!! It might have been a KING COBRA!!!!) I took my glove off and pet it some more and encouraged the child to do the same. As the snake relaxed it started to uncoil and so we took it to the back fence and showed it the way out the fence into the garden behind us where it could slither free of raving Bassett Hounds.
I related this story pretty much the same as I have here to Dirp when he got home. And when I got to the part about letting the snake go free....he came unglued.
WHAT??? You LET IT GO??? You didn't get a shovel and pound it until it was DEAD???
Uh. No.
Then he remembered the part about the snake touching HIS gloves.
Dirpus got new gloves......
Yea... Stacy was a big ol' girl. But at least that critter was IN HER SHIRT....
Girls. Sheesh!
Uh huh. One word, bub.
Snakes.
We useta live in a house with a backyard. We useta have a lovable Bassett Hound named Molly. Molly was the mellow sort. Not prone to histrionics at all. Not a barker. Not a howler, much. So my attention was immediately attracted when she started frantically barking in the backyard. I looked out the window and thought "the dog has gone looney" cause she was indeed frantically barking.
At the ground.
Her nose was almost in the dirt. Probably would have been if she could have barked in that position.
I sent the child out to investigate. She looked. Took a giant step backward and said:
It's a snake.
{SIGH} Now I gotta deal with it.... okey fine....
I got the leather gardening gloves out because you never know with wild critters. I pulled the dog away and shut her in the garage. (which immediately caused her to calm down, probably took a nap.) The snake was coiled up tight with its head down the center of the coil. You could see it breathing hard or its heart beating hard. I picked it up and pet it. I could see and feel it relax.
I determined it was of the 'garden' or 'garter' variety. (Dirp is reading this and thinking... You weren't SURE???!!!! It might have been a KING COBRA!!!!) I took my glove off and pet it some more and encouraged the child to do the same. As the snake relaxed it started to uncoil and so we took it to the back fence and showed it the way out the fence into the garden behind us where it could slither free of raving Bassett Hounds.
I related this story pretty much the same as I have here to Dirp when he got home. And when I got to the part about letting the snake go free....he came unglued.
WHAT??? You LET IT GO??? You didn't get a shovel and pound it until it was DEAD???
Uh. No.
Then he remembered the part about the snake touching HIS gloves.
Dirpus got new gloves......
Yea... Stacy was a big ol' girl. But at least that critter was IN HER SHIRT....
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Attitude
Kaitlyn takes zero period Spanish. That means, she has school before school starts. It allows her to take an extra elective. But it means school starts for her at 6:55am. I drive her. It's generally dark and cold, and today it was also rainy, at that time of day. I usually stumble out of bed and go wait for her in the car while heating up the seat heaters.
Today I overslept and she was w.a.i.t.i.n.g. for me. {SIGH} Great annoyance. Fortunately for her I was only about 25% awake and had only a vague impression of all this going on.
Norm turns on the news when he leaves for work for me. The idea is that people talking in my room will wake me up. It usually works... The impression that it wasn't Walt Gray, but Matt Lauer speaking is what woke me up on September 11 just in time to see the second plane hit on live TV.
In my quasi-awake state this morning I was fully aware when the announcement of the death of Dana Reeve was made. Loudly, I said "OH! NO!" and Kaitlyn came running (as much as one can run with a 25 pound backpack on...) Surely she was worried I had done something to further delay our departure....
"That poor boy...he's about Emma's age...." (actually more her age, but it was early and I couldn't remember)
And suddenly she was more relaxed about the whole getting to school thing. Will Reeve woke up this morning without parents. His mom wouldn't be taking him to school at any time today. In an instant she got that. And as I dropped her off at 6:45, her usual time, she said, as usual.... "Thanks...love you..." But maybe with a bit more gratitude in her heart.
Rest in peace Dana and Chris. We'll all be watching over your boy....
Today I overslept and she was w.a.i.t.i.n.g. for me. {SIGH} Great annoyance. Fortunately for her I was only about 25% awake and had only a vague impression of all this going on.
Norm turns on the news when he leaves for work for me. The idea is that people talking in my room will wake me up. It usually works... The impression that it wasn't Walt Gray, but Matt Lauer speaking is what woke me up on September 11 just in time to see the second plane hit on live TV.
In my quasi-awake state this morning I was fully aware when the announcement of the death of Dana Reeve was made. Loudly, I said "OH! NO!" and Kaitlyn came running (as much as one can run with a 25 pound backpack on...) Surely she was worried I had done something to further delay our departure....
"That poor boy...he's about Emma's age...." (actually more her age, but it was early and I couldn't remember)
And suddenly she was more relaxed about the whole getting to school thing. Will Reeve woke up this morning without parents. His mom wouldn't be taking him to school at any time today. In an instant she got that. And as I dropped her off at 6:45, her usual time, she said, as usual.... "Thanks...love you..." But maybe with a bit more gratitude in her heart.
Rest in peace Dana and Chris. We'll all be watching over your boy....
Friday, March 03, 2006
Tip of the Day
If you are in search of a good night's sleep, do NOT ingest 2 quarts of water 2 hours before bedtime.
Now I need more caffiene....
Now I need more caffiene....
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Shoes and Socks
All this fussing about both socks then both shoes.... or is it all one foot before the other? Which foot must be dressed first?
Who the hell cares?
Put on your underwear... this includes socks. Brush your teeth, put on your makeup (if you are so inclined) then put on the rest of your clothes. If you put on your pants and shirt before brushing your teeth, you are guaranteed to have some sort of tragic toothpaste accident in a socially inappropriate location.
Then sit down and think a minute....
Where WAS I when I got tired of wearing shoes yesterday???
Go to that place that you FIRST think of. Stand there and look at the spot without shoes and think... "ok, where was I ACTUALLY?"
Remember. Fetch shoes. If you are wearing the GOOD shoes, just slip them on. If you have the nasty kind with laces, sit down and put them on in any order.
Stand up and wonder.....
How long until summer and I don't NEED shoes and socks???? Cause this is just way too much bother....
Who the hell cares?
Put on your underwear... this includes socks. Brush your teeth, put on your makeup (if you are so inclined) then put on the rest of your clothes. If you put on your pants and shirt before brushing your teeth, you are guaranteed to have some sort of tragic toothpaste accident in a socially inappropriate location.
Then sit down and think a minute....
Where WAS I when I got tired of wearing shoes yesterday???
Go to that place that you FIRST think of. Stand there and look at the spot without shoes and think... "ok, where was I ACTUALLY?"
Remember. Fetch shoes. If you are wearing the GOOD shoes, just slip them on. If you have the nasty kind with laces, sit down and put them on in any order.
Stand up and wonder.....
How long until summer and I don't NEED shoes and socks???? Cause this is just way too much bother....
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Neighborhood Cleanup/Throw Your Junk In The Street Day
Once a year, we are given a "Neighborhood Clean Up Day". A free day to get rid of the big stuff. BIG stuff. Old refrigerators. Furniture, all sorts. Broken toys. You name it, it goes out there. Unless it's something like slightly decayed plutonium or something. There is a list of do's and don'ts. We are limited on the number of tires we can dispose of, for example. And we must stack them separately. I have yet to see tires. I have to wonder how many middle class homes have random TIRES hanging around. If I have an old tire, it was left at the tire store when I got a new one, ya know?
We are not to put things like computers and TV's out on the pile. These are "hazardous electronic waste". There will be directions on disposing of those things at a later date.
Furthermore, there shall be NO SCAVAGING.
So people put out their old TV's and computers and the scavengers take them away. Drive around the night before and behold that junk. The two sofas, in front of two different houses, that HAD to be the height of home furnishing fashion. In 1983. Wonder why they didn't just put "it" in the regular trash as "it" would surely fit without a problem. Realize that those little kids just aren't little anymore and the swing set has seen better days.
Be alert. Be VERY alert in the predawn hours. Scavengers are pawing through the piles. The Little Tykes Tool Bench is gone. The double mattress and box spring? Gone. So is the TV. Get out of the way, here comes one that is eyeing that turtle sandbox/wading pool.
In some ways, I feel rather sad. I see people obviously downtrodden and with less means going through the piles. But then I see someone in a $45,000 pick up truck that boasts of 7 miles per gallon and think.... y'all need to reprioritize. If you're getting your kids toys out of other people's trash.... get a cheaper car that costs less to drive and just BUY your kid a sandbox.
We are not to put things like computers and TV's out on the pile. These are "hazardous electronic waste". There will be directions on disposing of those things at a later date.
Furthermore, there shall be NO SCAVAGING.
So people put out their old TV's and computers and the scavengers take them away. Drive around the night before and behold that junk. The two sofas, in front of two different houses, that HAD to be the height of home furnishing fashion. In 1983. Wonder why they didn't just put "it" in the regular trash as "it" would surely fit without a problem. Realize that those little kids just aren't little anymore and the swing set has seen better days.
Be alert. Be VERY alert in the predawn hours. Scavengers are pawing through the piles. The Little Tykes Tool Bench is gone. The double mattress and box spring? Gone. So is the TV. Get out of the way, here comes one that is eyeing that turtle sandbox/wading pool.
In some ways, I feel rather sad. I see people obviously downtrodden and with less means going through the piles. But then I see someone in a $45,000 pick up truck that boasts of 7 miles per gallon and think.... y'all need to reprioritize. If you're getting your kids toys out of other people's trash.... get a cheaper car that costs less to drive and just BUY your kid a sandbox.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Humor through the eyes of a teen...
We rented "Young Frankenstein" tonight. We insisted both the girls watch it as part of their ongoing Cultural Education. They have had to watch old musicals like "Paint Your Wagon" and "Music Man" as part of this training as well.
"Young Frankenstein" is full of double entendres. Miss Emma doesn't give any sort of outward indication of it being funny at all.
But Miss Kate? A chortle. A nervous giggle. A snort.
Her father and I find THIS funnier than the original joke.
Sadly, they no longer think I am the originator of the "walk this way" command....
"Young Frankenstein" is full of double entendres. Miss Emma doesn't give any sort of outward indication of it being funny at all.
But Miss Kate? A chortle. A nervous giggle. A snort.
Her father and I find THIS funnier than the original joke.
Sadly, they no longer think I am the originator of the "walk this way" command....
Friday, February 17, 2006
Gather your daughters 'round....
And lose an hour of your life.
Seriously.
Don't judge a book by its cover.... 'cause the cover lies....
Go to "Portfolio".
Agree not to do anything dastardly with the images.
Go to "before/after".
Seriously.
Don't judge a book by its cover.... 'cause the cover lies....
Go to "Portfolio".
Agree not to do anything dastardly with the images.
Go to "before/after".
Thursday, February 16, 2006
God Moments
Last weekend I went on our church's annual Women's Retreat. Last year I didn't go. I went to Texas. And that was the same thing....with less crying and more laughing. Probably same number of tears shed tho'.....
Anyway. This year's theme was "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord". Perhaps you know the song....
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see you.
I want to see you.
We sing it in worship every now and again and we sang it during the retreat. Our facilitator, Karen Oliveto, helped us to be more aware of and become more aware of the "God Moments". Those moments, things, people... in which God is present. Be less busy...and "open the eyes of your heart" and see God....
Today (as you have already read) I was at work. After the Big Return there was a lull in client traffic. During these times sometimes I visit with my co-workers. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I knit. Today as I was sitting there doing NONE of those things... just looking out the window watching the car traffic go by.... I had a sudden thought.
So I took my cell phone and sent a text message. It was a sentiment my friends and I often say to each other because one of us has said something that needed to be said and 'that' one said it... But today.... it just came to me. And I said it to her.
As I was finishing my take out Chinese food, she called me. She wondered what it was that she had said and to whom had she said it. She had spent several hours trying to remember.... Nope. Just had the thought.....
It seems she was having a particularly trying day today.
And in my moment of unbusyness, God spoke to my heart.
Stop. Listen. Open the eyes of your heart.
I just need to remember that.....
Anyway. This year's theme was "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord". Perhaps you know the song....
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see you.
I want to see you.
We sing it in worship every now and again and we sang it during the retreat. Our facilitator, Karen Oliveto, helped us to be more aware of and become more aware of the "God Moments". Those moments, things, people... in which God is present. Be less busy...and "open the eyes of your heart" and see God....
Today (as you have already read) I was at work. After the Big Return there was a lull in client traffic. During these times sometimes I visit with my co-workers. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I knit. Today as I was sitting there doing NONE of those things... just looking out the window watching the car traffic go by.... I had a sudden thought.
So I took my cell phone and sent a text message. It was a sentiment my friends and I often say to each other because one of us has said something that needed to be said and 'that' one said it... But today.... it just came to me. And I said it to her.
As I was finishing my take out Chinese food, she called me. She wondered what it was that she had said and to whom had she said it. She had spent several hours trying to remember.... Nope. Just had the thought.....
It seems she was having a particularly trying day today.
And in my moment of unbusyness, God spoke to my heart.
Stop. Listen. Open the eyes of your heart.
I just need to remember that.....
Why I Do What I Do
Because I'm good at it. And because there are way too many people out there taking people's monety to prepare their tax returns who don't know their ass from a 1040.
Today was the day that makes up for the liars and tax cheats that I encounter far too often.
They have been loyal clients of our major competitor. Their usual preparer had moved since last year and so were assigned to another preparer. This year, the taxes were more challenging. They had, this year, some unusual items to go on the return. Nothing particularly difficult... just had to pay attention and put everything in the right places. In many ways, rather straightforward. But not something we get every day.
The competitor started their return and got to the 'out of the ordinary' things and said... no can do. Oh...and by the way.... you'll probably owe the IRS over $14,000. They knew they would owe. Everyone told them so. And this tax preparer assured them it was true....they would.
She fretted about paying that bill. She asked if she can make payments. She wondered if a Home Equity Loan would be a better option. Would the interest on an Equity Loan be more or less than the IRS would charge?
So she called us. Asked if we would even be able to DO the return....you know...cause she had this extra stuff.... No problem she was told on the phone.
I admit. It gave me pause when she said the competitor couldn't do it. See... there ARE things we can't do. It is just beyond our scope of expertise. So I asked questions. I let her tell her story. I asked some more questions. I told her sure... I could do it. And yea... go get a soda... no need to watch me input numbers.....
She left her cell phone number in case I had a questions. I did. I knew it was coming but I wasn't sure of the EXACT wording (see the aforementioned 'unusual' aspect of this thing). I called. I asked my question. She gave me her answer.... and I felt a lot better.
We got through the rest of her federal return and I asked her if she was ready for the number. She took a deep breath and said, yes... yes she was....
$12,000 (and some odd in 'change').
Ok.... ok.... she said... it was a couple grand less than the competitor had estimated...ok....
In refund.
She looked at me. REFUND? I showed her the figures there on my screen. In a choked voice she asked if we had a restroom.....
When she returned with red eyes and a stuffy nose I explained. That very VERY important question.... It made all the difference. It made a $26,000 difference. This, of course, caused her a moment of panic.... why was it SO different?
I explained again. The very simple question the competitor did not ask.... it was all in that one question. And she started crying again.
And I told her.... you're probably going to owe the state...... And they do. A few hundred... not much at all really.
Then she said she didn't even care how much I was going to charge her. Good I thought.... cause it was gonna be spendy. We charge by the form, and this one required a LOT of forms....
When I told her how much they owed me...she laughed. Seems the competitor was going to charge them more too.....
As she stood to leave she shook my hand and said "I don't know whether to hug you, kiss you or just jump up and down!" I told her to just sleep well tonight. (yea.... I get enough germs thankyouverymuch...no offense...but shaking hands gives me the willies ENOUGH...no hugging...no kissing...)
She said "Yea... I haven't been sleeping very well worrying about how we were going to pay the IRS...."
It isn't often you get to give someone the gift of peaceful sleep.
I got to do that today.
Today was the day that makes up for the liars and tax cheats that I encounter far too often.
They have been loyal clients of our major competitor. Their usual preparer had moved since last year and so were assigned to another preparer. This year, the taxes were more challenging. They had, this year, some unusual items to go on the return. Nothing particularly difficult... just had to pay attention and put everything in the right places. In many ways, rather straightforward. But not something we get every day.
The competitor started their return and got to the 'out of the ordinary' things and said... no can do. Oh...and by the way.... you'll probably owe the IRS over $14,000. They knew they would owe. Everyone told them so. And this tax preparer assured them it was true....they would.
She fretted about paying that bill. She asked if she can make payments. She wondered if a Home Equity Loan would be a better option. Would the interest on an Equity Loan be more or less than the IRS would charge?
So she called us. Asked if we would even be able to DO the return....you know...cause she had this extra stuff.... No problem she was told on the phone.
I admit. It gave me pause when she said the competitor couldn't do it. See... there ARE things we can't do. It is just beyond our scope of expertise. So I asked questions. I let her tell her story. I asked some more questions. I told her sure... I could do it. And yea... go get a soda... no need to watch me input numbers.....
She left her cell phone number in case I had a questions. I did. I knew it was coming but I wasn't sure of the EXACT wording (see the aforementioned 'unusual' aspect of this thing). I called. I asked my question. She gave me her answer.... and I felt a lot better.
We got through the rest of her federal return and I asked her if she was ready for the number. She took a deep breath and said, yes... yes she was....
$12,000 (and some odd in 'change').
Ok.... ok.... she said... it was a couple grand less than the competitor had estimated...ok....
In refund.
She looked at me. REFUND? I showed her the figures there on my screen. In a choked voice she asked if we had a restroom.....
When she returned with red eyes and a stuffy nose I explained. That very VERY important question.... It made all the difference. It made a $26,000 difference. This, of course, caused her a moment of panic.... why was it SO different?
I explained again. The very simple question the competitor did not ask.... it was all in that one question. And she started crying again.
And I told her.... you're probably going to owe the state...... And they do. A few hundred... not much at all really.
Then she said she didn't even care how much I was going to charge her. Good I thought.... cause it was gonna be spendy. We charge by the form, and this one required a LOT of forms....
When I told her how much they owed me...she laughed. Seems the competitor was going to charge them more too.....
As she stood to leave she shook my hand and said "I don't know whether to hug you, kiss you or just jump up and down!" I told her to just sleep well tonight. (yea.... I get enough germs thankyouverymuch...no offense...but shaking hands gives me the willies ENOUGH...no hugging...no kissing...)
She said "Yea... I haven't been sleeping very well worrying about how we were going to pay the IRS...."
It isn't often you get to give someone the gift of peaceful sleep.
I got to do that today.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Fire
We are always in a state of drought or semi-drought in California. 'Tis the nature of our geography.....
This year we've had quite a bit of rain. The good thing is that we need the water. The bad thing is rain makes vegetation grow. Everywhere.
Another quirk of our geography is the hot, VERY dry winds that come from the East...known as The Santa Ana Winds or The Santana Winds. The former for the hills that it comes sweeping over, the latter for what they really are.... Devil Winds.
Usually at this time of year, if we have them blow, they just make everyone cranky. Yep. These winds affect mood. It's like everyone is PMS-ing. But the abundance of vegetation and no rain for a few weeks and the drying effects of the winds....
Fire.
Mandatory Evacuations are in place. My friend from church... her family has been evacuated. They don't live too far from my own parents. I haven't spoken to them, but I am very very sure my mom would call if they were evacuated. My dad was probably out trying to keep ash out of the swimming pool when I called....
The fire is, from what I can gather from various news agencies, just on the other side of the hill from my parents. The toll road that is either loved or hated (depending on if you have access, I suppose) may end up being the savior... it is, at this point, the major fire break. But the canyon just a few miles from my parents is under voluntary evacuation.
The last time the fire was this close, I was in high school. It got smokier and smokier the closer we got to home after a parade. Horses were corralled on the tennis courts of school. Some bandos weren't allowed to go home as the area had been evacuated. Some of my classmates spent that weekend literally fighting fire in their backyards.
If that fire comes sweeping over the hill.... well, those are houses with shake roofs and mature trees and bushes....
And there is no rain on the horizon.....
This year we've had quite a bit of rain. The good thing is that we need the water. The bad thing is rain makes vegetation grow. Everywhere.
Another quirk of our geography is the hot, VERY dry winds that come from the East...known as The Santa Ana Winds or The Santana Winds. The former for the hills that it comes sweeping over, the latter for what they really are.... Devil Winds.
Usually at this time of year, if we have them blow, they just make everyone cranky. Yep. These winds affect mood. It's like everyone is PMS-ing. But the abundance of vegetation and no rain for a few weeks and the drying effects of the winds....
Fire.
Mandatory Evacuations are in place. My friend from church... her family has been evacuated. They don't live too far from my own parents. I haven't spoken to them, but I am very very sure my mom would call if they were evacuated. My dad was probably out trying to keep ash out of the swimming pool when I called....
The fire is, from what I can gather from various news agencies, just on the other side of the hill from my parents. The toll road that is either loved or hated (depending on if you have access, I suppose) may end up being the savior... it is, at this point, the major fire break. But the canyon just a few miles from my parents is under voluntary evacuation.
The last time the fire was this close, I was in high school. It got smokier and smokier the closer we got to home after a parade. Horses were corralled on the tennis courts of school. Some bandos weren't allowed to go home as the area had been evacuated. Some of my classmates spent that weekend literally fighting fire in their backyards.
If that fire comes sweeping over the hill.... well, those are houses with shake roofs and mature trees and bushes....
And there is no rain on the horizon.....
Monday, February 06, 2006
Broken
Sometimes I feel like my body just does. not. like. me. I don't know why. I take reasonably good care of it. Most of the problems it has, it has brought upon itself..... *I* didn't inflict it with the various maladies. I take it to the doctor. I fix whatever is wrong with it as soon as possible.
So WHY??? Why would it just literally stab me in the back for the mere crime of STANDING UP?
Today has been a waste. It was supposed to be a watch movies and bake cookies day with Emma. We watched movies....no cookies.
We also went to the chiropractor. Who was able to crack my back into a point where I can stand upright. For which I am grateful. But tomorrow I must go to work. Sitting work. Which is ok. I will take my heating pad. I also go back for another crack tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to function.....
None of my pain killer pills are helping. So I've resorted to a simple regimine of aspirin to help with inflammation. Why take the narcotics when they don't do anything more than aspirin. (see....I'm being considerate of both my liver and my digestive tract... a little consideration here....some quid pro quo???)
And I'm going away on Friday. Not far, but it will involve a suitcase.
argh.
So WHY??? Why would it just literally stab me in the back for the mere crime of STANDING UP?
Today has been a waste. It was supposed to be a watch movies and bake cookies day with Emma. We watched movies....no cookies.
We also went to the chiropractor. Who was able to crack my back into a point where I can stand upright. For which I am grateful. But tomorrow I must go to work. Sitting work. Which is ok. I will take my heating pad. I also go back for another crack tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to function.....
None of my pain killer pills are helping. So I've resorted to a simple regimine of aspirin to help with inflammation. Why take the narcotics when they don't do anything more than aspirin. (see....I'm being considerate of both my liver and my digestive tract... a little consideration here....some quid pro quo???)
And I'm going away on Friday. Not far, but it will involve a suitcase.
argh.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Daring Randomness
Yesterday I asked a man at work out on a date.
He's kinda cute. I share a desk with him. He takes over my desk when I leave. So I don't spend much time with him.... just the few minutes that it takes to make the desk handoff. Sometimes I spend a few extra minutes bringing him up to speed on a client that SWEARS they will be back "tonight" (loosely defined as "sometimes before April 15") just in case they actually DO return during his shift. I always leave detailed notes...but it gives me an excuse to stand next to him.
Sometimes my arm touches his, even!
I didn't actually ask him out on a date, face to face. I texted the question. But he answered back in the affirmative. So we are going out. TONIGHT!
The kids will have to forage through the leftovers for dinner tonight. Cause Mom and Dad are OUTTA HERE.
....unless we are too wiped out from work and just decide that 12 hours of sleep is the better option.....
He's kinda cute. I share a desk with him. He takes over my desk when I leave. So I don't spend much time with him.... just the few minutes that it takes to make the desk handoff. Sometimes I spend a few extra minutes bringing him up to speed on a client that SWEARS they will be back "tonight" (loosely defined as "sometimes before April 15") just in case they actually DO return during his shift. I always leave detailed notes...but it gives me an excuse to stand next to him.
Sometimes my arm touches his, even!
I didn't actually ask him out on a date, face to face. I texted the question. But he answered back in the affirmative. So we are going out. TONIGHT!
The kids will have to forage through the leftovers for dinner tonight. Cause Mom and Dad are OUTTA HERE.
....unless we are too wiped out from work and just decide that 12 hours of sleep is the better option.....
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Improvements
First noticeable improvement around here: The Boy has caused regular, un-nagged (!!) attention to personal hygiene. I haven't met The Boy yet. But I love him.
Second noticeable improvement: Chores are being done. Phone call to me today: "Hi mom, it's me. Can I play with Kaelin? Cause I did all my chores...." I granted permission and came home to find that yes, indeed, she had done all assigned chores.
Sometime over the weekend someone spiked my kids hot chocolate with Maturity and Responsibility. (as evidenced by the LACK of hot chocolate mugs strewn about in the family room and instead set in the sink. Not quite in the dishwasher but a BIG improvement.)
Thank you. Whoever you are.
(I hope it holds....)
Second noticeable improvement: Chores are being done. Phone call to me today: "Hi mom, it's me. Can I play with Kaelin? Cause I did all my chores...." I granted permission and came home to find that yes, indeed, she had done all assigned chores.
Sometime over the weekend someone spiked my kids hot chocolate with Maturity and Responsibility. (as evidenced by the LACK of hot chocolate mugs strewn about in the family room and instead set in the sink. Not quite in the dishwasher but a BIG improvement.)
Thank you. Whoever you are.
(I hope it holds....)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
To Blog or Not To Blog...etc...
Periodically I am chastised for not updating my blog. I don't not blog to irritate anyone. And I understand that irritation because I feel it too when *I* go to the same thing for a week at a time at someone else's blog.
I have not endeavored to blog every day. I know someone who does. But he comes up with these obscure, but nonetheless facinating little web tidbits to fill in for the days that he doesn't have a personal story to relate. And I usually follow them. And an hour later I still have nothing to blog about.
So if you arrive here in a week and this is still the latest entry, forgive me. But I simply have nothing worthwhile to say. Or nothing I should say in public..... And I guess that's my point. I have a lot of 'stuff' in my everyday life. But really.... you wouldn't want me discussing your taxes on my blog, so I won't discuss other people's here either!
But I am SURE that by April there will be a Tax Preparer's Lament of some sort. But for now... we're just tired. It's been surprisingly busy at our office.....
I have not endeavored to blog every day. I know someone who does. But he comes up with these obscure, but nonetheless facinating little web tidbits to fill in for the days that he doesn't have a personal story to relate. And I usually follow them. And an hour later I still have nothing to blog about.
So if you arrive here in a week and this is still the latest entry, forgive me. But I simply have nothing worthwhile to say. Or nothing I should say in public..... And I guess that's my point. I have a lot of 'stuff' in my everyday life. But really.... you wouldn't want me discussing your taxes on my blog, so I won't discuss other people's here either!
But I am SURE that by April there will be a Tax Preparer's Lament of some sort. But for now... we're just tired. It's been surprisingly busy at our office.....
Monday, January 30, 2006
So Martha needs something new to read...
Ok.
Then come over here and fix this stupid router. Cause I'm not really sure this is gonna go through due to extreme wonky-ness of said router.
Hmph.
Of course we don't NEED a new router. THIS one works just fine.
Except when it doesn't. Which is all to frequent IN MY OPINION. Which doesn't count for squat when it comes to such things.....
Then come over here and fix this stupid router. Cause I'm not really sure this is gonna go through due to extreme wonky-ness of said router.
Hmph.
Of course we don't NEED a new router. THIS one works just fine.
Except when it doesn't. Which is all to frequent IN MY OPINION. Which doesn't count for squat when it comes to such things.....
Monday, January 23, 2006
I Blame Sue
Cause I just kept taking/doing these things. Couldn't resist this one. Funny how this was one of the four movies I could watch over and over again.....
| Your Life is Like |
 Say Anything... |
Monday, January 16, 2006
Tax Season
............sigh.............
Once again, it is upon us. It's been upon us since October...you just weren't aware. Tax professionals...those who do other people's taxes.... have gone to Continuing Education and learned the changes to the tax code. The tax code that changes right up until Dec. 31. The big changes.... the ones that make headlines and are decried our touted by politicians... those are put into law with much fanfare. The picayune things... those keep coming at us.
But here's the bottom line this year.... just like every year.....
For most of us, we get a bargain when it comes to what we get for our tax dollar. I know what you pay to both the federal and state government. We have a variety of folks come through our offices. Those who qualify for Earned Income Credit (look it up) and those who DO have a big tax bill because they are self employed (and have employment taxes due at the same time). But those of us 'in the middle'? For all we get from both our federal and state government... we get a pretty good deal.
We get police and fire protection. We get a Trauma Center when we get hit by a truck. Our children are educated. Our neighbors' children are educated. We have paved roads just about anyplace we want to drive. (unless we WANT to go offroad) We have libraries. We have a war against terrorism. We have interest-free loans when a natural disaster hits. We have people who stay up all night walking our levee's to spot the first sign of weakness.... in pounding rain and wind. We have dams holding back reservoirs that will deliver water to us all through the summer. We have men and women patrolling our waters in aircraft carriers. We have men and women patrolling our borders. We maintain our national parks. If we can't afford it, our children will be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Regardless of our ability to pay, our disabled children will be educated and given every benefit possible. When we take a shower or flush the toilet, we have the luxury of never thinking about it again. When we turn on the tap, clean potable water comes out and we have the luxury of complaining when it tastes just a bit 'off'. Our street lights stay lit all night long eliminating the shadows that those who would do us harm seek. Those that do us harm are locked away in prisons, unable to prey upon us.
The forms are a pain to fill out.
No. I take that back. The forms are really quite easy to fill out. Getting a straight answer from some of my clients is a pain.
I don't know how much you gave to charity last year. I would guess it hovers around zero since you're asking. Those that don't ask "what's the usual amount" have their receipts. If you donated zero, you donated zero. No...you can't just 'take' $500. If you want to take $500 in charity donations, donate $500. If those that make half of what you do can donate twice that... it shouldn't be a problem.
I don't know how many miles you drove on your car last year either.
If you own a business, keep records. You can pull the answer out of your ass or look for it on our ceiling... but when you get audited, you better have it written down somewhere.
Pay what you owe. It's a bargain and in the long run, cheaper than when it's all disallowed after that audit.
So start gathering your records. Go through your check register for your charity donations. Write them all down. Bring that piece of paper to your tax appointment.
And you'll get right in if you do so during the first two weeks of March.
Once again, it is upon us. It's been upon us since October...you just weren't aware. Tax professionals...those who do other people's taxes.... have gone to Continuing Education and learned the changes to the tax code. The tax code that changes right up until Dec. 31. The big changes.... the ones that make headlines and are decried our touted by politicians... those are put into law with much fanfare. The picayune things... those keep coming at us.
But here's the bottom line this year.... just like every year.....
For most of us, we get a bargain when it comes to what we get for our tax dollar. I know what you pay to both the federal and state government. We have a variety of folks come through our offices. Those who qualify for Earned Income Credit (look it up) and those who DO have a big tax bill because they are self employed (and have employment taxes due at the same time). But those of us 'in the middle'? For all we get from both our federal and state government... we get a pretty good deal.
We get police and fire protection. We get a Trauma Center when we get hit by a truck. Our children are educated. Our neighbors' children are educated. We have paved roads just about anyplace we want to drive. (unless we WANT to go offroad) We have libraries. We have a war against terrorism. We have interest-free loans when a natural disaster hits. We have people who stay up all night walking our levee's to spot the first sign of weakness.... in pounding rain and wind. We have dams holding back reservoirs that will deliver water to us all through the summer. We have men and women patrolling our waters in aircraft carriers. We have men and women patrolling our borders. We maintain our national parks. If we can't afford it, our children will be vaccinated against deadly diseases. Regardless of our ability to pay, our disabled children will be educated and given every benefit possible. When we take a shower or flush the toilet, we have the luxury of never thinking about it again. When we turn on the tap, clean potable water comes out and we have the luxury of complaining when it tastes just a bit 'off'. Our street lights stay lit all night long eliminating the shadows that those who would do us harm seek. Those that do us harm are locked away in prisons, unable to prey upon us.
The forms are a pain to fill out.
No. I take that back. The forms are really quite easy to fill out. Getting a straight answer from some of my clients is a pain.
I don't know how much you gave to charity last year. I would guess it hovers around zero since you're asking. Those that don't ask "what's the usual amount" have their receipts. If you donated zero, you donated zero. No...you can't just 'take' $500. If you want to take $500 in charity donations, donate $500. If those that make half of what you do can donate twice that... it shouldn't be a problem.
I don't know how many miles you drove on your car last year either.
If you own a business, keep records. You can pull the answer out of your ass or look for it on our ceiling... but when you get audited, you better have it written down somewhere.
Pay what you owe. It's a bargain and in the long run, cheaper than when it's all disallowed after that audit.
So start gathering your records. Go through your check register for your charity donations. Write them all down. Bring that piece of paper to your tax appointment.
And you'll get right in if you do so during the first two weeks of March.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Cause Steph asked nice....
Four jobs you've had in your life: Cashier at The Hardware Store, Hostess at Cafe Orleans, Cashier at The Emporium (those are two DIFFERENT jobs... it counts even if they were both at Disneyland), Map Librarian for The State of California Lands Commission.
Four movies you could watch over and over: Say Anything, Top Gun, Raiders of the Lost Ark, any Harry Potter
Four places you've lived: Madera, Walnut Creek, Tustin, Sacramento
Four TV shows you love to watch: CSI (all of them), That 70's Show, Two and a Half Men, local news
Four places you've been on vacation: Cancun, Alaska, Disneyland and Central Texas in a Big White Van
Four websites you visit daily: SS, all those blogs listed over there ->, My Yahoo, Random links from blogs and My Yahoo
Four of your favorite foods: Sourdough Bread, Crab, Scallops, authentic Italian (gee... maybe my San Francisco roots are showing??)
Four places you'd rather be: At home, on a cruise, on a beach, anywhere warm.
Four movies you could watch over and over: Say Anything, Top Gun, Raiders of the Lost Ark, any Harry Potter
Four places you've lived: Madera, Walnut Creek, Tustin, Sacramento
Four TV shows you love to watch: CSI (all of them), That 70's Show, Two and a Half Men, local news
Four places you've been on vacation: Cancun, Alaska, Disneyland and Central Texas in a Big White Van
Four websites you visit daily: SS, all those blogs listed over there ->, My Yahoo, Random links from blogs and My Yahoo
Four of your favorite foods: Sourdough Bread, Crab, Scallops, authentic Italian (gee... maybe my San Francisco roots are showing??)
Four places you'd rather be: At home, on a cruise, on a beach, anywhere warm.
Four albums you can't live without: Albums? ALBUMS? I don't have albums. I have tunes. No albums.
Four magazines you read: Magazines that come into my house: People, Sacramento Magazine, Creating Keepsakes, Lasting Moments. READ is another matter.....
Four cars you've owned: 72 Impala, 95 Camry, 2002 New Beetle, 2003 New Beetle
Four people to do this meme: Normy, Jean, Jennifer, Marfy
My Youngest Child
A few minutes ago I lemmulated a blog entry because I had nothing to say.... Then my youngest child came downstairs, dressed for school.....
This child has many friends. She really doesn't have anyone who doesn't like her. She is friends with nearly every person she meets. She's having a hard time being less friendly to a toxic child in her class.... Everyone Loves Emma. This has not made her an egomaniac or a prima donna or anything like that. Other moms have told me how Emma never gets caught up in the drama of being in 5th grade and who likes who and all that. One of the moms said "Oh yea...you probably didn't hear about that... Emma just doesn't let it bother her and just goes with the flow, never taking sides...." Oh. Ok. (EXCELLENT)
It is for this reason that I don't really police her clothing choices. The biggest issue we have is that she would like to wear her strappy heels to school. I say no. I win. But there are many many days that I look at her and think "Anyone else would get their ass kicked for wearing that. Anyone else would be laughed at. Anyone else would be mortified to be seen in that get up." But not Emma. Not my budding fashion designer....
Today's outfit......from the toes to the head....
Sketcher sneakers. Totally ok.
Jeans. Totally ok.
Top: Her pink fuzzy fleece like turtleneck tank top. Kinda cool for sleeveless...but ok.
Jacket: Denim jacket. Good choice.
Then we go.....wonky....
OVER the denim jacket is a green and pink crocheted poncho with a pink fun fur knitted scarf. Yes. OVER the jacket.......
On her head? The knit beanie I made for her. Which is fine, except she has her hair up and it looks like she has some sort of horrid monster tumor on her head cause the beanie stretches enough to go over the updo.
Why she didn't wear her pink suede/fleece knee high boots...... I don't know. It would have REALLY pulled the outfit together....
I love that kid. She makes me laugh most every day. Often at her choice of outfits for school.... but apparently I'm the only one.
This child has many friends. She really doesn't have anyone who doesn't like her. She is friends with nearly every person she meets. She's having a hard time being less friendly to a toxic child in her class.... Everyone Loves Emma. This has not made her an egomaniac or a prima donna or anything like that. Other moms have told me how Emma never gets caught up in the drama of being in 5th grade and who likes who and all that. One of the moms said "Oh yea...you probably didn't hear about that... Emma just doesn't let it bother her and just goes with the flow, never taking sides...." Oh. Ok. (EXCELLENT)
It is for this reason that I don't really police her clothing choices. The biggest issue we have is that she would like to wear her strappy heels to school. I say no. I win. But there are many many days that I look at her and think "Anyone else would get their ass kicked for wearing that. Anyone else would be laughed at. Anyone else would be mortified to be seen in that get up." But not Emma. Not my budding fashion designer....
Today's outfit......from the toes to the head....
Sketcher sneakers. Totally ok.
Jeans. Totally ok.
Top: Her pink fuzzy fleece like turtleneck tank top. Kinda cool for sleeveless...but ok.
Jacket: Denim jacket. Good choice.
Then we go.....wonky....
OVER the denim jacket is a green and pink crocheted poncho with a pink fun fur knitted scarf. Yes. OVER the jacket.......
On her head? The knit beanie I made for her. Which is fine, except she has her hair up and it looks like she has some sort of horrid monster tumor on her head cause the beanie stretches enough to go over the updo.
Why she didn't wear her pink suede/fleece knee high boots...... I don't know. It would have REALLY pulled the outfit together....
I love that kid. She makes me laugh most every day. Often at her choice of outfits for school.... but apparently I'm the only one.
So Stacy doesn't yell at me....
I'm cheating cause I really don't have anything to say, but I don't want Stacy to yell at me. And I'm skeert of Stacy...... So I'm copying. This is technically copied from Sue, but others have also done this.... feel free to copy off me. You don't want Stacy yelling at you either. You should be skeert of Stacy too....
A is for age: not quite yet 40.... but we are on official count down. I actually can't wait!
B is for booze of choice: whatcha serving? Yea, ok...as long as it isn't beer, I'm mostly ok with it
C is for career: oops. Forgot to have one of those.
D is for your dad's name: He'd get mad if I said it on the Internet.
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Me of course! Lately, it's been the crab cakes the recipe to which we got from The Great and Wonderful Valley Oak Maytag.
F is for favorite song at the moment: 1985.
G is for favorite game: at the moment: Cranium
H is for hometown: I hear they call it "The O.C." now. Of course, not if you LIVE there....
I is for instruments you play: flute, voice.... but I don't think I can get the bagpipes to sing anymore....
J is for jam or jelly you like: Jam. Strawberry.
K is for kids: 2
L is for living arrangements: California Production Home with accompanying California Mortgage
M is for mum's name: She'd get mad if I said it on the Internet
N is for name of your crush: Normy
O is for overnight hospital stays: ah gee.....higher math on this thing? uh... 9?
P is for phobias: wild water...ocean, rivers....
R is for relationship that last lasted the longest: Still goin'....20+ years
S is for sexual preference: Yes, thankyouverymuch.
T is for time you wake up: Noon. I get out of bed by 6:30am....
U is for underwear: Yes....unless I go commando.....
V is for vegetable you love: Corn on the Cob fresh from Davis Ranch (which means I've been to Marfy's too! Extra bonus!)
W is for weekend plans: National Holiday for Normy's Birthday... so I'm going to the outlets with Theresa and Theresa is making us attend the Youth and Parents Fundraising Meeting on Sunday...then shopping with Emma. Might throw a cake and a few presents at The Man at some point. Someone else's birthday this weekend too. But she'd get mad for disclosing personal information on the internet, so I won't mention it.
X is for x-rays you've had: are you kidding me?????? Suffice it to say: radiation burns are no fun.
Y is for yummy food you make: All of it is yummy. It's the MAKING that is an issue.
Z is for zodiac sign: Cancer. I was doomed from the get go.....
A is for age: not quite yet 40.... but we are on official count down. I actually can't wait!
B is for booze of choice: whatcha serving? Yea, ok...as long as it isn't beer, I'm mostly ok with it
C is for career: oops. Forgot to have one of those.
D is for your dad's name: He'd get mad if I said it on the Internet.
E is for essential items to bring to a party: Me of course! Lately, it's been the crab cakes the recipe to which we got from The Great and Wonderful Valley Oak Maytag.
F is for favorite song at the moment: 1985.
G is for favorite game: at the moment: Cranium
H is for hometown: I hear they call it "The O.C." now. Of course, not if you LIVE there....
I is for instruments you play: flute, voice.... but I don't think I can get the bagpipes to sing anymore....
J is for jam or jelly you like: Jam. Strawberry.
K is for kids: 2
L is for living arrangements: California Production Home with accompanying California Mortgage
M is for mum's name: She'd get mad if I said it on the Internet
N is for name of your crush: Normy
O is for overnight hospital stays: ah gee.....higher math on this thing? uh... 9?
P is for phobias: wild water...ocean, rivers....
R is for relationship that last lasted the longest: Still goin'....20+ years
S is for sexual preference: Yes, thankyouverymuch.
T is for time you wake up: Noon. I get out of bed by 6:30am....
U is for underwear: Yes....unless I go commando.....
V is for vegetable you love: Corn on the Cob fresh from Davis Ranch (which means I've been to Marfy's too! Extra bonus!)
W is for weekend plans: National Holiday for Normy's Birthday... so I'm going to the outlets with Theresa and Theresa is making us attend the Youth and Parents Fundraising Meeting on Sunday...then shopping with Emma. Might throw a cake and a few presents at The Man at some point. Someone else's birthday this weekend too. But she'd get mad for disclosing personal information on the internet, so I won't mention it.
X is for x-rays you've had: are you kidding me?????? Suffice it to say: radiation burns are no fun.
Y is for yummy food you make: All of it is yummy. It's the MAKING that is an issue.
Z is for zodiac sign: Cancer. I was doomed from the get go.....
Friday, January 06, 2006
My Dear Stacy
GREETINGS from soggy California!
I am happy that you did not have to stay extra time at your appointment of yesterday. I hope it all continues to go well.
Things have been rather crazed around here. There was Christmas. I had a blog entry on Christmas. I wrote it a while back and saved it. I didn't know that it would insert it using THAT date as the publish date. You could scroll back. You'll know which it is. No music tho'. THAT would be a good blog for a musical interlude. But I'm sure everyone can 'hear' it anyway.
But while everyone else was on vacation, I still had work. Including at 6am on New Year's Day. Big sale at Knitique. We opened at 6am. We had people lined up waiting for us to open! But since I got Normy's crud two days earlier, I just came home and went to bed. And now it's inventory time.
Then there is the small matter of other things happening that have suddenly required much emailing. But you know all about that. And since that has been occupying the greater part of my brain, I really haven't had much to blog about.
But now I must get in the shower so I can run off to work. I hope you have a lovely day!
~Nancy
I am happy that you did not have to stay extra time at your appointment of yesterday. I hope it all continues to go well.
Things have been rather crazed around here. There was Christmas. I had a blog entry on Christmas. I wrote it a while back and saved it. I didn't know that it would insert it using THAT date as the publish date. You could scroll back. You'll know which it is. No music tho'. THAT would be a good blog for a musical interlude. But I'm sure everyone can 'hear' it anyway.
But while everyone else was on vacation, I still had work. Including at 6am on New Year's Day. Big sale at Knitique. We opened at 6am. We had people lined up waiting for us to open! But since I got Normy's crud two days earlier, I just came home and went to bed. And now it's inventory time.
Then there is the small matter of other things happening that have suddenly required much emailing. But you know all about that. And since that has been occupying the greater part of my brain, I really haven't had much to blog about.
But now I must get in the shower so I can run off to work. I hope you have a lovely day!
~Nancy
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
"The Grinch Factor"
The Grinch Factor
by Rosa Brooks (Los Angeles Times, December 16,2005)
THE WHOS down in Who-ville
Were a tolerant lot:
Who Christians, Who Muslims — a Who melting pot.
Who Hindus! Who atheists! Who Buddhists, Who Jews!
Who Confucians, Who pagans,
And even Who Druze! The Who 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause
Said, "No creches in courts," and the Whos loved their laws.
Because somehow … they worked. The Whos rarely fought,
Mostly, each Who did just what he ought.
Every Who down in Who-ville
Loved the Consti-Who-tion a lot.
But the O'Reilly, who lived up in Fox-ville,
Did NOT!
The O'Reilly DETESTED the Who Consti-Who-tion,
He thought it was some sort of liberal pollution.
Now, please don't ask why, for I really don't know.
Perhaps it had something to do with his show.
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
Or it could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his RATINGS
Were two sizes too small.
Well, whatever it was, bad ratings or tight shoes,
He stood there one Christmas, just hating the Whos.
"They're so multicultural," he sneered, "and wherever they're from,
They lack the good sense to just launch a pogrom!
There's no Who ethnic cleansing, no Who Inquisition,
If this PEACE can't be stopped, I may lose my position.
Those sensitive, tolerant Whos! It's quite grating.
I must think of something to fix my show's ratings!"
Then he said with a smirk, "I know just what to do
To destroy all the joy in the land of the Who!
I think I can end that PC Who peace.
This year, not one Who will enjoy his Roast Beast!
"Here's just how I'll do it:
I'll tell each Who Christian
That the liberal Whos have devised a new mission
To take away Christmas!
To mock and destroy
Till no little Who Christian is left with a toy!
And when secular Whos — most likely Who Jews —
Attempt to deny it? Why,
I'll just SPIN THE NEWS!
"I'll bluff and I'll lie; I'll sow seeds of mistrust.
Soon they'll form battle lines into
Who 'THEM' and Who 'US,'
Based on which Whos prefer
To sing out, 'Merry Christmas'
And which Whos say, 'Kwanzaa!'
Or 'None of your business!'
"They'll get so confused and so MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD
That they won't even notice the way
They've been HAD!
They'll be so busy squabbling
They won't notice the war!
They won't care if Who rich
Start to trample Who poor!
"Forget torture, and terror, and taxes, and health!
They'll waste all their time on some red-hatted elf.
"And the Who Consti-Who-tion?
They'll stretch it or burn it!
If it came as a gift, they would try to return it!
"The Who Christians will think that they fight the good fight,
They won't know that they're puppets of the Fox-ville Far Right.
They'll forget all that DRIVEL about faith, hope and LOVE
And say 'Merry Christmas' with a sneer and a shove.
"But I? I will prosper! My ratings will soar,
And maybe at last they'll forget I'm a BOOR.
Then for every Who Christmas tree
A most fitting adornament:
My O'Reilly MUG on the tackiest ornament!"
—
… And what happened then?
Well, the rest's up to you.
But I know what I'd like this holiday season:
A little less NOISE and a little more reason.
So Who Christians! Who Buddhists! Who Muslims! Who Jews!
WHOever you are, just say NO to Fox "News!"
If you don't want to lose the whole Who Consti-Who-tion
It's time to reject the Far Right Revolution.
So turn off O'Reilly and everyone shrill,
Let's have some peace
And old-fashioned GOODWILL.
by Rosa Brooks (Los Angeles Times, December 16,2005)
THE WHOS down in Who-ville
Were a tolerant lot:
Who Christians, Who Muslims — a Who melting pot.
Who Hindus! Who atheists! Who Buddhists, Who Jews!
Who Confucians, Who pagans,
And even Who Druze! The Who 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause
Said, "No creches in courts," and the Whos loved their laws.
Because somehow … they worked. The Whos rarely fought,
Mostly, each Who did just what he ought.
Every Who down in Who-ville
Loved the Consti-Who-tion a lot.
But the O'Reilly, who lived up in Fox-ville,
Did NOT!
The O'Reilly DETESTED the Who Consti-Who-tion,
He thought it was some sort of liberal pollution.
Now, please don't ask why, for I really don't know.
Perhaps it had something to do with his show.
It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
Or it could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his RATINGS
Were two sizes too small.
Well, whatever it was, bad ratings or tight shoes,
He stood there one Christmas, just hating the Whos.
"They're so multicultural," he sneered, "and wherever they're from,
They lack the good sense to just launch a pogrom!
There's no Who ethnic cleansing, no Who Inquisition,
If this PEACE can't be stopped, I may lose my position.
Those sensitive, tolerant Whos! It's quite grating.
I must think of something to fix my show's ratings!"
Then he said with a smirk, "I know just what to do
To destroy all the joy in the land of the Who!
I think I can end that PC Who peace.
This year, not one Who will enjoy his Roast Beast!
"Here's just how I'll do it:
I'll tell each Who Christian
That the liberal Whos have devised a new mission
To take away Christmas!
To mock and destroy
Till no little Who Christian is left with a toy!
And when secular Whos — most likely Who Jews —
Attempt to deny it? Why,
I'll just SPIN THE NEWS!
"I'll bluff and I'll lie; I'll sow seeds of mistrust.
Soon they'll form battle lines into
Who 'THEM' and Who 'US,'
Based on which Whos prefer
To sing out, 'Merry Christmas'
And which Whos say, 'Kwanzaa!'
Or 'None of your business!'
"They'll get so confused and so MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD
That they won't even notice the way
They've been HAD!
They'll be so busy squabbling
They won't notice the war!
They won't care if Who rich
Start to trample Who poor!
"Forget torture, and terror, and taxes, and health!
They'll waste all their time on some red-hatted elf.
"And the Who Consti-Who-tion?
They'll stretch it or burn it!
If it came as a gift, they would try to return it!
"The Who Christians will think that they fight the good fight,
They won't know that they're puppets of the Fox-ville Far Right.
They'll forget all that DRIVEL about faith, hope and LOVE
And say 'Merry Christmas' with a sneer and a shove.
"But I? I will prosper! My ratings will soar,
And maybe at last they'll forget I'm a BOOR.
Then for every Who Christmas tree
A most fitting adornament:
My O'Reilly MUG on the tackiest ornament!"
—
… And what happened then?
Well, the rest's up to you.
But I know what I'd like this holiday season:
A little less NOISE and a little more reason.
So Who Christians! Who Buddhists! Who Muslims! Who Jews!
WHOever you are, just say NO to Fox "News!"
If you don't want to lose the whole Who Consti-Who-tion
It's time to reject the Far Right Revolution.
So turn off O'Reilly and everyone shrill,
Let's have some peace
And old-fashioned GOODWILL.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
"Breathtaking Inanity"
Well.... yea. That pretty much sums it up.
I fear, deeply DEEPLY fear for our future. There was a time when logical scientific analysis was a point of pride. Now it is fraught with suspicion. When the basic concept of scientific theory...the very definition of it... cannot be explained to the religious whackjobs who get themselves elected to school boards, we are quickly tumbling down that slippery slope.
They simply can NOT...seemingly physical unable.... to comprehend that a scientific theory is, indeed, a fact. It is not a theory as in "Theoretically, school board members should be well educated." Or as in "Theoretically, philosophy and world religions would not be taught in science class." Or as in "My theory of the way the world began is rooted deeply in the teachings of the Flying Spaghetti Monster."
If you want the full text of the ruling, click here and see the "related links" in the sidebar.
And may you be touched by His Noodly Appendage this holiday season.
I fear, deeply DEEPLY fear for our future. There was a time when logical scientific analysis was a point of pride. Now it is fraught with suspicion. When the basic concept of scientific theory...the very definition of it... cannot be explained to the religious whackjobs who get themselves elected to school boards, we are quickly tumbling down that slippery slope.
They simply can NOT...seemingly physical unable.... to comprehend that a scientific theory is, indeed, a fact. It is not a theory as in "Theoretically, school board members should be well educated." Or as in "Theoretically, philosophy and world religions would not be taught in science class." Or as in "My theory of the way the world began is rooted deeply in the teachings of the Flying Spaghetti Monster."
If you want the full text of the ruling, click here and see the "related links" in the sidebar.
And may you be touched by His Noodly Appendage this holiday season.
One Lemulating
1 MINUTE AGO: reading the Ones list on Martin Chronicles and Messygoat
1 HOUR AGO: Trudging through the old CM junk so I can make 'workroom' a 'guest room'
1 DAY AGO: Working on Christmas gifts
1 WEEK AGO: Working on Christmas gifts
1 MONTH AGO: Thanksgiving Sunday at church, probably working on Christmas gifts
1 YEAR AGO: Not much different than this year
1 DECADE AGO: Spending all day every day at the hospital with Emma who had RSV and spent the week before her first Christmas in the hospital hooked up to Oxygen.
1 SCORE AGO (minus one cause it's more interesting): in college. Just broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years. Moving into a new apartment and thinking that guy that helped us move had potential....Jennifer said I should ask him out. She thought he would be perfect for me. Funny how I thought the same about HER husband.... We must know each other or something.
1 QUARTER CENTURY AGO: Freshman in high school. Finished with my first marching season. Thought I was all that. And I know this because the current high school freshman in the house thinks she is all that......
1 HOUR AGO: Trudging through the old CM junk so I can make 'workroom' a 'guest room'
1 DAY AGO: Working on Christmas gifts
1 WEEK AGO: Working on Christmas gifts
1 MONTH AGO: Thanksgiving Sunday at church, probably working on Christmas gifts
1 YEAR AGO: Not much different than this year
1 DECADE AGO: Spending all day every day at the hospital with Emma who had RSV and spent the week before her first Christmas in the hospital hooked up to Oxygen.
1 SCORE AGO (minus one cause it's more interesting): in college. Just broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years. Moving into a new apartment and thinking that guy that helped us move had potential....Jennifer said I should ask him out. She thought he would be perfect for me. Funny how I thought the same about HER husband.... We must know each other or something.
1 QUARTER CENTURY AGO: Freshman in high school. Finished with my first marching season. Thought I was all that. And I know this because the current high school freshman in the house thinks she is all that......
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Just A Reminder
As we head into an election year....
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
-Martin Niemoeller
Vote your hopes. Not your fears.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Busy
Busy busy busy.
Too ambitious on my to do list. Did NOT volunteer to host part of the neighborhood progressive dinner. Yay me.
Busy busy busy.
I think the bug guy comes on Friday. Gives me a deadline to get upstairs bug spray ready. Ugh.
Not sure when visitors arrive so have been unable to get motivated to convert workroom to guest room. Once I get that.....
Busy busy busy.
Lots of things to 'attend'. Don't wanna attend all of them. Some, yes. Not all. Feel obligated. Hmph.
Busy busy busy.
Too ambitious on my to do list. Did NOT volunteer to host part of the neighborhood progressive dinner. Yay me.
Busy busy busy.
I think the bug guy comes on Friday. Gives me a deadline to get upstairs bug spray ready. Ugh.
Not sure when visitors arrive so have been unable to get motivated to convert workroom to guest room. Once I get that.....
Busy busy busy.
Lots of things to 'attend'. Don't wanna attend all of them. Some, yes. Not all. Feel obligated. Hmph.
Busy busy busy.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Letters to Santa
Did you ever write a letter to Santa and actually put it in the mailbox? I didn't. Might've given it to my mom trusting her to mail it. I really don't remember.....
Emma informed me a few weeks back that she did NOT want to go sit on Santa's lap. I figured she was feeling kinda too big for all that. I don't know if she's told Dad yet. Cause Christmas Eve these past few years saw them getting up and being the first in line for Santa at the mall.
But I could tell she was a tad bit worried about word getting to Santa about what she wanted. Mind you, The Material Girl has a long list and I don't think anything is under $100. Most of it is some over priced electronic gadget, heavily advertised on The Disney Channel and Nick. They sound all sorts of wonderful, but really.... not so much. Like some "pen" that remembers what you write or some such thing. As long as you use the very expensive special paper. Always the catch.....
As materialistic the child is, she is also clever...in that conniving kind of way. She shall just WRITE to Santa this year. She asked me for Santa's address...without telling me about the letter. I just said "North Pole".
One morning she came down and asked for a stamp. She had a letter to Santa to mail. It was a piece of binder paper, folded over and stapled. It was duly addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole. It had her return address. I gave her a stamp after scoping out her letter. I said something to the effect that "Santa is gonna send us a BILL for all this stuff". She says... I told him to just pick ONE.
I was (and still am) skeptical. But ok......
It was stamped and put in the mailbox to go off to........ the North Pole.
Apparently.
Because TODAY a return letter arrived. Return address: Santa Claus, North Pole. Hand addressed in red ink. The handwriting reminded me of my grandmother's script.
Inside was a letter addressed to "My little friend". It told of how busy it had been at the North Pole and that they are going to be ready for Christmas. It said how he had been checking on all the boys and girls and that they were doing their best to be good. It was signed by Santa HIMSELF!
Emma says: "I didn't think he would REALLY get my letter!"
Yes, Emma.... There is a Santa Claus.
Emma informed me a few weeks back that she did NOT want to go sit on Santa's lap. I figured she was feeling kinda too big for all that. I don't know if she's told Dad yet. Cause Christmas Eve these past few years saw them getting up and being the first in line for Santa at the mall.
But I could tell she was a tad bit worried about word getting to Santa about what she wanted. Mind you, The Material Girl has a long list and I don't think anything is under $100. Most of it is some over priced electronic gadget, heavily advertised on The Disney Channel and Nick. They sound all sorts of wonderful, but really.... not so much. Like some "pen" that remembers what you write or some such thing. As long as you use the very expensive special paper. Always the catch.....
As materialistic the child is, she is also clever...in that conniving kind of way. She shall just WRITE to Santa this year. She asked me for Santa's address...without telling me about the letter. I just said "North Pole".
One morning she came down and asked for a stamp. She had a letter to Santa to mail. It was a piece of binder paper, folded over and stapled. It was duly addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole. It had her return address. I gave her a stamp after scoping out her letter. I said something to the effect that "Santa is gonna send us a BILL for all this stuff". She says... I told him to just pick ONE.
I was (and still am) skeptical. But ok......
It was stamped and put in the mailbox to go off to........ the North Pole.
Apparently.
Because TODAY a return letter arrived. Return address: Santa Claus, North Pole. Hand addressed in red ink. The handwriting reminded me of my grandmother's script.
Inside was a letter addressed to "My little friend". It told of how busy it had been at the North Pole and that they are going to be ready for Christmas. It said how he had been checking on all the boys and girls and that they were doing their best to be good. It was signed by Santa HIMSELF!
Emma says: "I didn't think he would REALLY get my letter!"
Yes, Emma.... There is a Santa Claus.
Friday, December 02, 2005
AOL Meets The Turino Olympics
This is what happens when you can SEE the TV but not HEAR the TV.
"What are they doing with those CD's?"
A while back, there was a campaign to send all those AOL CD's that arrive, unbidden, in your mailbox either BACK to AOL or to some group who was going to then dump them on AOL headquarter's front step.
Leave it to the IOC to put them to better use.
I've seen a real live, honest to goodness Olympic medal. It belonged (well, still belongs) to Dana Schoenfield. Dana was the youth group leader when I was in High School. Silver in the 200m breaststroke. You probably have never heard of her because you were either focused on her teammate, Mark Spitz, or the terrorists that killed the Israeli athletes. But that Olympic medal looked like an Olympic medal. Felt like one too.
It remembers the Greek heritage of the Olympic Games. It's SOLID. According to Sports Illustrated the hole in the middle is supposed to represent the open space of an Italian piazza.
Oh.
I thought this was about the athletes. I thought this was about the games. My error. It's about SITTING AROUND IN THE CITY SQUARE.
But of course.
So having a computer disk as a medal is appropriate. Sit around on your butt is the new message of the Olympic games.
So here's something for my Christmas letter this year.
I am an Olympic caliber athelete. Who knew? But I can SO sit around on my ass with the best of them......
"What are they doing with those CD's?"
A while back, there was a campaign to send all those AOL CD's that arrive, unbidden, in your mailbox either BACK to AOL or to some group who was going to then dump them on AOL headquarter's front step.
Leave it to the IOC to put them to better use.
I've seen a real live, honest to goodness Olympic medal. It belonged (well, still belongs) to Dana Schoenfield. Dana was the youth group leader when I was in High School. Silver in the 200m breaststroke. You probably have never heard of her because you were either focused on her teammate, Mark Spitz, or the terrorists that killed the Israeli athletes. But that Olympic medal looked like an Olympic medal. Felt like one too.
It remembers the Greek heritage of the Olympic Games. It's SOLID. According to Sports Illustrated the hole in the middle is supposed to represent the open space of an Italian piazza.
Oh.
I thought this was about the athletes. I thought this was about the games. My error. It's about SITTING AROUND IN THE CITY SQUARE.
But of course.
So having a computer disk as a medal is appropriate. Sit around on your butt is the new message of the Olympic games.
So here's something for my Christmas letter this year.
I am an Olympic caliber athelete. Who knew? But I can SO sit around on my ass with the best of them......
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Funny Thing, Those Funny Things...
Often I crack myself up. Often, I am the only one laughing. But I soldier on....
Today I cracked myself up. I stated the obvious. It seemed a natural response in the situation.
Seems I made others laugh out loud too.
Sonic out the window.
Funny thing.
Honest.
And it will ALWAYS be "Pull the van over, I gotta PEE!" kind of funny. Even when we are wearing Depends for non-surgical reasons, we'll still be laughing.
Just won't need to pull the van over....
Today I cracked myself up. I stated the obvious. It seemed a natural response in the situation.
Seems I made others laugh out loud too.
Sonic out the window.
Funny thing.
Honest.
And it will ALWAYS be "Pull the van over, I gotta PEE!" kind of funny. Even when we are wearing Depends for non-surgical reasons, we'll still be laughing.
Just won't need to pull the van over....
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